VSNW | Voluntary Sector North West

Contact Us

Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre

Ardwick Green North
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk

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Resources for the Voluntary and Community Sector

This section of the website is currently in development. If you would like VSNW to consider promoting specific resources for the voluntary and community sector please email details to: warren.escadale@vsnw.org.uk.

 

Free legal advice

Sources of legal advice and training for the voluntary and community sector (VCS):

• If you are a small community group, charity or social enterprise you may be able to access free legal advice through Law Works, on a range of issues including: employment (contracts), property (leases, rent, etc), trademark and copyright issues, service contracts and consitution (documents, duties). 
• The Public Law Project (PLP) provides free detailed legal advice to VCS groups on disputes involving public bodies' decisions and failures. The PLP's lawyers are also available to take on particular cases to resolve disputes. Tel: 020 7697 2198. Email: evs@publiclawproject.org.uk
• NAVCA and PLP, through the Empowering the Voluntary Sector (EVS) project, offer public law workshops and public law masterclasses.  

ICT support

Support and resources available from the North West ICT Champion. 

* includes a Guide to Managing ICT in the Voluntary and Community Sector

IDeA’s Partnerships and Places Library:

 

The Partnerships and Places Library contains best practice case studies sharing innovation and learning to support LAA delivery. This is a comprehensive resource sharing best practice to improve local outcomes. 

 

 Local Area Agreement (LAA) Resources

 

 Good Leaflets on LAAs From NAVCA

 

Tendering for Care

Two weekly e-journals, ‘Staying Ahead’ and ‘Update’, are available from Janet Roberts’ Tendering for Care and are designed to help VCS organisations to stay informed of developments in commissioning, procurement and tendering for public sector contracts.

Excellent supplement to Janet Roberts’ procurement training.
Discounted rate, using reference “VSNW”, of £100 + VAT for first year’s subscription. Equality and Human Rights 

Human Rights Resources

EHRC run a Helpline Providing Information and Guidance on Discrimination and Human rights issues: Tel:0845 604 6610; Textphone: 0845 604 6620.

NHS Online

A new online procurement website has been launched by the NHS. It also contains some useful best practice links including information on standard contracts, world class commissioning, other procurement resources and a glossary of some health and procurement related terms:
guidance
 

 

Workforce Reforms Guidance

Lifelong Learning UK, together with partners, has created guidance to explain how the reforms impact on those who deliver Adult and Community Learning, Offender Learning, and who deliver learning in the Third Sector.
 

 

Three Year Funding

Guidance (October 2008) for central Government departments on implementing the three year funding commitment:

Participatory Budgeting

Information about Participatory Budgeting Strategy  from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

New Asset Transfer Unit

Development Trust Association Asset Transfer Unit. Due to be up and running  January 2009 will advise community organisations on how to take over assets from local authorities.

Audit Comission's Later Life Research

Finds That many Councils in England are not ready to meet the needs of older residence. for guidence about the later life research and to view the short checklists for local Authorities see Later Life

Cohesion Guidance and Southall Black Sisters
 

For information on this and to view a draft letter please see. southall black sisters

Local Comissioning and Procurement

Resources from NAVCA

ACAS

ACAS Produces a range of useful Advisory booklets on Employment Issues

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

This Resource has Guidence on a number of topics Recruitment, Performance Management and Employment law with CIPD Factsheets to download.

Good Employment Resources

From Workforce Hub Factsheets Avaliable to download and also Employment Law advice avaliable.

Finance Hub

A range Of Publications and Resources, including An Introductry pack on Funding advice and Finance avaliable via Finance Hub

How to use New Media

The Media Trust 2008 is a resource to help Communication between Media and Charities.

Charity Commission Leaflets

Our aim is to provide the best possible regulation of these charities in order to increase charities’ efficiency and effectiveness and public confidence and trust in them.

Volunteering Works                          

Volunterring and Social Policy is Avaliable to download with other Publications including How to take care of risk in Volunteering from Volunteering Works

Faith Matters

A Resource with advice for Faithful Communities including the advice booklet A Practicle Guide to working with Faith Communities

 

North West Planning Aid

 Is a service that provides free advice to groups and individuals who are unable to afford the services of a professional planner.  It's also there to help people engage with and influence planning decisions contact North West Planning Aid

Employers Guide to Employing Refugees

The Refugee Council have developed a broucher entilted "Employing Refugees"- A guide for employers.  It is avaliable to download from Refugee Council

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Events & Trainings

VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West