Managing, Monitoring, Value for Money and the Work Programme
The Public Accounts Committee have reported on the 'Introduction of the Work Programme'
There is a share of £600,000 available for four charities to take part in the three month Sidekick School programme
Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
Voluntary sector networks developing lead body bids/networking with specialist sectors (Warrington and Cheshire)
Transforming infrastructure funding - challenges
1. Lack of consultation re funding pot so youth participation marginalised
- open conference needed to discuss
- problems re competition
- young people being marginalised re projects e.g. unemployment
2. New infrastructure companies springing up with no background and no involvement of working or involving young people
- volunteers expected to meet JD's for 2 or 3 days per week
- need for tried and tested methods and outlining level of expectation for volunteers
- no centralised training or structure for volunteers
3. Retention and support improving re volunteers
- this difficult for stretched profession and paid workforce
- no progression to paid work for volunteers
- lack of safety and quality of work for volunteers who are under skilled for complex tasks
- lack of funding for training of volunteers
- no government definition of 'volunteers'
- benefits put as risk if people don't agree to be volunteers
- employers using volunteers instead of paying staff
The Public Accounts Committee have reported on the 'Introduction of the Work Programme'

Find out more about the plans for a potential Liverpool City Region LNP
Local Government Association press release (30 April 2012): Treasury move over EU billions could hit jobs and growth
Summary of VCS involvement in the Work Programme
This article includes:
► a podcast highlighting the debate and the stumbling blocks
► a comprehensive list of latest reports and articles

Network for Europe has responded to the BIS consultation on the next programme of European funding