The Association of British Insurers has published a list of motor insurers who will not generally charge extra for driving for the purposes of volunteering.

The list is on the ABI website and a press release about the list is available.

The list is the result of months of negotiation between Volunteering England, the Community Transport Association at the ABI. Volunteering England is monitoring how the list works in practice. Comments should be sent to dan.summers@volunteering.org.uk.

Volunteers drivers can receive ‘passenger allowance’ free of tax and national insurance when driving other volunteers.

From 6 April 2011, the passenger payment allowance was extended to volunteers. HMRC guidance on volunteer drivers says this can be claimed for all passengers driven in the course of volunteering.

The March 2012 edition of “Update”, the personal health budgets information sheet, has been published. Read the full update:

• Resources on the Equality Act and putting it into practice - www.sandy-a.co.uk/equality.htm#resources
• First tribunal case on caste discrimination in employment - www.sandy-a.co.uk/equality.htm#caste
• Inadvertent comments about s***** orientation do not, in themselves, constitute discrimination or harassment - www.sandy-a.co.uk/equality.htm#s-orientation-comments
• New resources on managing older workers and not having a compulsory retirement age - www.sandy-a.co.uk/equality.htm#managing-age
• ECJ decisions on when a compulsory retirement age can be justified - www.sandy-a.co.uk/equality.htm#compulsoryretirement
• Six-year time limit for equal pay cases - www.sandy-a.co.uk/equality.htm#equalpay-breachofcontract

In partnership with  Locaility, NAVCA, and NCVO, Volunteering England has published ‘A guide to avoid job substitution‘.

As the budgets of many organisations in the voluntary and public sectors are cut, the issue of replacing paid staff with volunteers has become critical. This guide is to help organisations ensure that they do not substitute paid staff posts with volunteers.

Qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal is increased from one year to two years for people hired on or after 6 April. – www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#unfairdismissal-twoyears

Some employees contracted out of additional state pension are automatically brought within it. – www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#additionalstatepension

Changes in employment tribunal procedures. – www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#emptribunal-procedure

Serious workplace injuries, illness or near misses only have to be reported to HSE if they result, or could have resulted, in over seven days incapacitation (not over three days, as has been the case). But records must continue to be kept for over-three-day injuries and illness. – www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#riddor

New tax allowances and national insurance contributions; new statutory sick pay rate.

www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#tax-allowances

www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#sickpay

Reduced rate of inheritance tax if more than 10% of estate is donated to charities, for deaths on or after 6 April. – www.sandy-a.co.uk/finance.htm#inheritancetax

End of self-assessment giving to charities.- www.sandy-a.co.uk/finance.htm#selfassessment-giving

Our legal expert has pointed us towards some useful links and resources on managing your finances.

Finance Management links

Our legal expert provides some useful information to help you plan any events linked into the Queen’s Jubille or Olympics

Use of Diamond Jubilee names, titles and emblem.

Issues, arrangements and time off during the Olympics and Parlaympics.

Use of Olympics and Paralympics name, symbols, mascots etc. To put it briefly, DON’T.

Restrictions on fundraising near Olympic and Paralympic sites.

Roots HR is (as far as we know) the only ‘not for personal profit’ social enterprise specialising in HR in the UK.  The service is very professionable and rates are very competitive.

They offer a free 1 hour consultancy which can be specific to an issue or a more general review of policies.

With the current climate, changes in employment law, employee rights, pensions, etc you may want to check them out.

Visit their website