Civil Society - Governance - Vibeka Mair

Commission suggests charging charities or top-slicing gift aid to fund its services

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:50:00 GMT

The Charity Commission has suggested to the Treasury that it takes a slice of gift aid or places a direct levy on charities, as it warns it cannot sustain a further 10 per cent funding cut expected in the government’s upcoming spending review.

Birkbeck University to end voluntary and community studies course

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:45:00 GMT

Birkbeck University of London has come under fire over plans to close its Masters course in Voluntary and Community Sector Studies.

DWP told to publish names of organisations involved in workfare

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:23:00 GMT

The Information Tribunal has ruled that the Department for Work and Pensions must publish the names of the businesses and charities which are involved in its unpaid work experience schemes.

Screwfix launches foundation to help charities fix their properties

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:08:00 GMT

One of the biggest trade retailers in the UK, Screwfix, has set up a charity that will provide grants for charities to fix, maintain and improve their properties.

Charities urged to end unpaid internships

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:21:00 GMT

The union Unite and Intern Aware have called on charities to stop unpaid internships, saying it breeds elitism.

Ogden-Newton to be new chief executive of World Child Cancer

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:24:00 GMT

Allison Ogden-Newton, former chief executive of Social Enterprise London, has this month joined World Child Cancer in the same role.

CVSs raise concerns about Navca's recent alliances

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:41:00 GMT

Some Navca members have voiced concern over the umbrella body's direction since chief executive Joe Irvin joined in 2012, with one leaving in protest at its relationship with Acevo.

Social investment pioneer to take up chief exec role at BIG

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:23:00 GMT

Dawn Austwick, chief executive of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, will lead the Big Lottery Fund from this Autumn.

Sector leaders criticise new Charity Commission board

Thu, 9 May 2013 11:33:00 GMT

Two charity sector leaders have taken to Twitter to complain that the new Charity Commission board only includes one person from the sector, with Debra Allcock Tyler calling for responsibility of appointing the board to be removed from a government minister.

Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire closes down

Wed, 8 May 2013 12:31:00 GMT

Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire has gone into voluntary liquidation resulting in the redundancy of 26 employees.

Arts and culture sector has key role in UK economy, finds report

Tue, 7 May 2013 11:07:00 GMT

The Arts Council England has today published its first analysis of the value of arts and culture to the national economy, finding that the sector has a turnover of £12.8bn.

Bupa Foundation to wind up as funding is withdrawn

Wed, 1 May 2013 10:16:00 GMT

The Bupa Foundation is to close as Bupa will no longer provide it funding to support medical research in the UK.

No.10 meeting held to encourage nominations from charities for honours

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:08:00 GMT

The head of the civil service Sir Bob Kerslake met with charities last week to encourage a greater number of diversity of nominations from the voluntary and charitable sectors, particularly for volunteers.

Brixton Barnardo's store attack was protest against its involvement in detention centre, says group

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:55:00 GMT

Protest group Informal Anarchist Federation has claimed responsibility for smashing the window of a Barnardo’s charity shop in Brixton during a party to celebrate Margaret Thatcher’s death, saying it was in protest at the charity’s involvement in a detention centre for migrants.

Former HBOS CEO leaves trusteeship at Cancer Research UK

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:38:00 GMT

Former HBOS chief Sir James Crosby has announced that he will stand down as trustee of Cancer Research UK, a position he has held since 2008.

Charity Commission staff on strike today

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 10:34:00 GMT

The Charity Commission is to close its contact centre from 12.45pm today in anticipation of a strike announced by the Public and Commercial Services Union for this afternoon.

Impetus Trust awarded share of £17.5m fund to help young mothers

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 11:26:00 GMT

The Department of Health has awarded a £17.5m contract to three partners, including the Impetus Trust, to grow a national initiative to help young and disadvantaged mothers.

Some charity CEOs not coping well with financial climate, says survey

Wed, 3 Apr 2013 10:27:00 GMT

Over half of interim charity managers that responded to a recent survey say future leaders of the charity sector will come from the business or corporate sector, and a third said current charity chief executives are not coping well with financial pressures.

Where's the charity sector's voice?

Tue, 2 Apr 2013 11:23:00 GMT

With the Welfare Reform Act 2012 coming into force, charities face increased pressure on their services from the most vulnerable in society, but do they have a co-ordinated voice to speak up for them, asks Vibeka Mair.

Ben Kernighan leaves NCVO for NUS

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:30:00 GMT

Ben Kernighan, deputy chief executive and director of public policy at NCVO is to join the National Union of Students as chief executive this summer.