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National news July 2011

Spotlight

RNID is now Action on Hearing Loss

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Giving White Paper

RNID is now Action on Hearing Loss

Founded 100 years ago today with ambitious aims, RNID has achieved so much but now, a century on, it is needed more than ever. The new name makes its intention clear - to reach more people with hearing loss, those at risk of losing their hearing, and those who do not realise how isolating hearing loss can be.
Also launched in June was a new look and a new website, with lots of subtitled videos and British Sign Language (BSL) translations. You can share stories and support in our forums, search for and rate hearing aid providers, and find great events and services in your area. Act now and go to www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
The helpline is also available if you want information or advice on anything to do with deafness, hearing loss or tinnitus.

Giving White Paper

You will recall that earlier in the year the government consulted on the Giving green paper which was covered in a previous e-news. A green paper is a government consultation with ideas it is considering creating new laws on. This is part of the government’s wider Big Society agenda in decreasing the role of the state and increasing the role of communities and individuals. Part of this includes a desire to see more people giving to charities and good causes - financially and in time. The government has now published a white paper – normally this is the basis of planned legislation. However it is difficult to legislate for people to choose to give more so there are two foci - specific funds to set up structures and proposals for institutions to make it easier for people to give time and money.

Some new funding arrangements:

£80m: Community First: Predominantly match-funded investment under way for deprived areas, consisting of:

£30m: Neighbourhood Match Fund Programme for community-led projects
£50m: Endowment Match Challenge to build up local grant-giving endowment funds

£40m in volunteering and social action: New programme will run for two years and then be reviewed. It will consist of:

£10m Social Action Fund - Projects funded will include: self-managed volunteering pilots. Proposals for building participation Schools-based giving programmes. Post-National Citizen Service activities.Using opportunity from 2012 Games. Training volunteer managers. Supporting ex-civil servants to volunteer.
£30m local infrastructure fund – To be delivered by the Big Lottery Fund.

Other money:

New Funds

£1m Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund
£400,000 from government and Nesta to trial Spice in England
Challenge Prizes for volunteering schemes
£1m for volunteering website Do-it from Cabinet Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health.

Existing funds

£700,000 over next three years for Philanthropy UK
£20,000 bursary for 500 senior community organisers in the first year
Near Neighbours: £5m over three years – Department for Communities and Local Government with the Church of England
What are the other proposals?
Giving through cash machines – prompts to donate when you take cash
Round pound initiatives – donating loose change in shops
Giving Summit in the Autumn
Round Table led by New Philanthropy Capital with private banks
Removing red tape- this relates more to giving time than money and include suggestions on reviewing CRB check process
Business Connectors and a campaign to promote take up of payroll giving – part of Every Business Commits
Further tax relief for giving art to the nation, extending existing allowance made on inheritance tax for gifts of art after death, to reductions in other taxes in return for lifetime donations
Further rewarding giving through the honours system
Day of volunteering by all ministers - not the same day! They will choose who they wish to support
More volunteering by civil servants and encouraging those retiring or being made redundant to volunteer
Work on impact reporting- looking at ways to make it easier for organisations to demonstrate their impact. It seems very likely that those who cannot demonstrate impact will not befit form the white paper proposals
More government data on giving
Letting charities use government buildings - it’s not clear if this is rent free
Using government websites for donations

You can see the white paper in full on the cabinet office website and comments are still being accepted until 1st July at giving@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk