Contact Us
Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk
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. Good Leaflets on LAAs From NAVCA 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. EHRC run a Helpline Providing Information and Guidance on Discrimination and Human rights issues: Tel:0845 604 6610; Textphone: 0845 604 6620. 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: 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 Information about Participatory Budgeting Strategy from the Department for Communities and Local Government. 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. 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 For information on this and to view a draft letter please see. southall black sisters Resources from NAVCA ACAS Produces a range of useful Advisory booklets on Employment Issues This Resource has Guidence on a number of topics Recruitment, Performance Management and Employment law with CIPD Factsheets to download. From Workforce Hub Factsheets Avaliable to download and also Employment Law advice avaliable. A range Of Publications and Resources, including An Introductry pack on Funding advice and Finance avaliable via Finance Hub The Media Trust 2008 is a resource to help Communication between Media and Charities. 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. Volunterring and Social Policy is Avaliable to download with other Publications including How to take care of risk in Volunteering from Volunteering Works A Resource with advice for Faithful Communities including the advice booklet A Practicle Guide to working with Faith Communities 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 The Refugee Council have developed a broucher entilted "Employing Refugees"- A guide for employers. It is avaliable to download from Refugee Council Local Area Agreement (LAA) Resources
Tendering for Care
Discounted rate, using reference “VSNW”, of £100 + VAT for first year’s subscription. Equality and Human Rights Human Rights Resources
NHS Online
guidance
Workforce Reforms Guidance
Guidance (October 2008) for central Government departments on implementing the three year funding commitment:Participatory Budgeting
New Asset Transfer Unit
Audit Comission's Later Life Research
Cohesion Guidance and Southall Black Sisters
Local Comissioning and Procurement
ACAS
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Good Employment Resources
Finance Hub
How to use New Media
Charity Commission Leaflets
Volunteering Works
Faith Matters
North West Planning Aid
Employers Guide to Employing Refugees
Featured Event
Influencing Parliament with the Communities and Local Government Select Committee
As part of the Parliamentary Outreach and VSNW 'Get Involved' series of events, this event will explore:
►What Parliament is and what it does
►How groups can effectively engage with Parliament
►Insights from a Specialist Clerk from the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee
Latest News
Job opportunity: Sustainable Neighbourhoods Action Group strategic engagement worker
SNAG is looking for a highly motivated and proactive individual to deliver a project which aims to help community and voluntary groups get more involved in decision-making on a range of sustainability issues in Manchester.
Win £50,000 to improve your are
People’s Millions is a competition from the National Lottery to help you improve your area.
Listen Value Invest campaign is launched at the Houses of Parliament
The Listen Value Invest campaign was launched in a special event at the Houses of Parliament last week.
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
