Earlier this week, the Prime Minister launched the Big Society Bank and four ‘vanguard’ areas where Big Society is to be piloted. Here are links to some of the key developments in the programme:

• Big Society website/network
• The Coalition Government’s Big Society programme (published May 2010)
• The Cabinet Office’s structural reform plan (draft June 2010) – outlines the timeframe for creating Big Society
• Communities and Local Government plan (draft July 2010) – which contains more specific detail about Big Society
• Launch of Big Society Bank and four Big Society communities (press release 19th July 2010)

The government announced in May that the Vetting and Barring Scheme was to be halted, suspending the requirement for individuals working with children and vulnerable adults to be registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority, which was due to come into force on 26th July.

The Criminal Records Bureau has published a briefing on interim arrangements during the Vetting and Barring Scheme review.

Crucially, the requirements introduced during the first phase of the scheme in October 2009 remain in place.  These are outlined in the briefing and include:

• The definitions of ‘Regulated Activity’ and ‘Controlled Activity’ (which itself is subject to ongoing consultation)
• The role of the Independent Safeguarding Authority in making barring decisions and maintaining the barred lists
• The prohibition of certain persons from undertaking regulated activity, and from undertaking controlled activity without safeguards being in place

126 people turned out in support of the first ever Solihull Together Magic Charity Ball, held at Solihull Ramada on Friday 16^th July. The event raised nearly six thousand pounds for local charities and voluntary groups that provide essential support to the people of Solihull.

Guests enjoyed a champagne reception and a delicious 3 course dinner in the Courtyard Suite, followed by a stunning performance from Solihull-based close-up magician Ben Hanlin. Everyone was amazed by his superb showmanship and just could not fathom how during one trick he appeared to swallow nails and then pull them out of his mouth again one by one!

Thanks to the many tremendous prizes donated by local businesses, both the auction and raffle excited much interest, raising £1400. The star raffle prize was a Samsung Flat Screen TV which was donated by Gemma Smith of Blue Dog Electric Company. Auction prizes included a signed Birmingham City Football Shirt and a wheelbarrow filled with wine.

Local resident Sheila Stansbie commented: “I thought it was an excellent evening. Well organised, good food and great entertainment”.

The evening was generously hosted by Ramada, led by general manager Andy Cole, as part of their on-going contribution to the Solihull Together campaign.

Solihull Together is a charity set up in 2009 to support local charities and voluntary groups in the borough, badly hit by the recession. Last year’s fundraising events, including the Solihull Together Walk, saw £10k raised – a target it aims to double during 2010.

To be added to the mailing list for notification of next year’s charity ball, or make contributions to Solihull Together please contact SUSTAiN on 0121 711 3148.

The Women’s Resource Centre has an online network for the women’s voluntary and community sector. The Women’s Cafe can help you make connections, find information and help support each other. They are also offering free membership to organisations with an annual income below £100,000. For more information visit the WRC website.

The taskforce works with community groups, charities and social enterprises to save historic churches at risk by exploring additional uses that will keep them in community ownership.

Ramada Solihull Manager wins national ‘community hero’ award

Andy Cole, General Manager at Solihull’s Ramada hotel has been named a ‘community hero’ at a national awards ceremony recognising eight business people who have gone the extra mile in supporting their local community.

The Development Trusts Association ‘private sector community hero’ award was given to Andy for the outstanding contribution his hotel has made to the Solihull Together campaign, which fundraises on behalf of Solihull-based charities and voluntary groups.

Andy and his team at the Ramada have been putting on monthly quiz nights and homemade cake sales, with proceeds going to the campaign. They also ran a ‘watering station’ for over 180 hot and tired walkers at the first ever Solihull Together sponsored walk last October.

And this year, the hotel is making a big gesture – generously supporting Solihull Together’s magic charity ball later this month.

Upon receiving the award, Andy said: “really I’m just very proud for my team because every one of the hotel’s staff has put the effort in, I’m just lucky enough to be the individual picked out to be rewarded.”

Andy was nominated for the award by SUSTAiN/Colebridge Trust, the organisation behind Solihull Together. Having built up a strong partnership with the hotel, both sides have seen the relationship bear fruit.

“I’m very lucky that as a hotel I’ve got quite a lot to offer to the local community,” said Andy. “And what’s in it for me is much better staff morale, a real feeling of teamwork from the hotel staff when they’re helping with all the events, and a bit of fun – something that adds real interest to the day job.”

While Chief Executive of SUSTAiN/Colebridge Trust, Dave Pinwell, had this to say: “Andy and his team have really captured the spirit of the Solihull Together campaign – which is all about the different parts of our community pulling together to make a difference in people’s lives. They have helped in so many ways, especially in their idea to host a ball which has really added a new dimension to this year’s campaign and has helped to jump-start our fundraising efforts. Their contribution is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when business and the community work together.”

One new number for Adult Social Care – 0121 704 8007

From 1 July 2010, people in Solihull Borough can call 0121 704 8007, a “One Front Door” number, for advice, information and access to Adult Social Services.

The new number is for anyone who is not in current contact with Adult Social Services and will provide general information, including services provided by partner organisations, as well as referrals and access into social care services. However, existing service users and partner agencies should continue to use the telephone numbers they currently have to access services and professionals.

Solihull NHS Care Trust staff will be taking calls from within Solihull Connect, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s contact service.

For more information about the service, contact Fiona McGill, Solihull NHS Care Trust Community Services’ Deputy Director of Integrated Services on 0121 712 8509 / fiona.mcgill@solihull-ct.nhs.uk or Angela Pretty, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s Contact Centre Manager on 0121 704 8651 / apretty@solihull.gov.uk.

Environmental sustainability charity Groundwork is running a programme called Community Task Force where people aged 18-24 who are struggling to find employment can build on their work experience, confidence and get a working reference by working on a community based project.

They are currently looking for voluntary work and work placements throughout the Birmingham and Solihull area, which will be of benefit to the community as well as our clients.

Placement providers do not pay any costs towards our clients and we even pay for their travel to the placement!

To discuss any placements you may have, or for more information contact Laura Gough on either 0121 322 4540 or 07554 011 768.

Download the Groundwork Community Task Force Leaflet

Download the June edition of the Children and Young People’s Trust Newsletter which includes news of the Forest School programme which helps to improve children’s confidence, the new developments with 14 to 19 year olds and the latest on vetting and barring. Also check out the latest training.

Detail on local government cuts revealed (10/06)

Jill Theobald, NewStart

Funding for programmes including the Working Neighbourhood Fund, Local Enterprise Growth Initiative and Prevent will be cut as part of local government’s £1.166bn contribution towards the overall £6.2bn deficit. The three programmes will face grant cuts totalling nearly £75m between them, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has revealed. Other programmes to feel the pinch include Housing Market Renewal (£50m), Connecting Communities (£19.1m) and Kickstart (£5m). The Gypsy and Traveller site grant will also drop by £30m.

http://bit.ly/csJNhE

Radical solutions needed to create Big Society, says Maude (09/06)

Celina Ribeiro, Civil Society magazine

The coalition government will strive to find ways to properly resource civil society to enable it to be in the vanguard of the Big Society, Francis Maude told an audience of sector representatives today.
…. “We want to change how public services work and not just to save money,” he said. “We will give more power to charities and social enterprise and the individuals they serve.”
http://bit.ly/c8EmxY

Hurd confirms the end of Futurebuilders (09/06)

Vibeka Mair, Civil Society magazine

Nick Hurd, minister for civil society, has confirmed that future revenue from the £200m Futurebuilders programme will be used to provide grants to stimulate the creation and development of neighbourhood groups, the stated goal of the government’s Big Society concept.
….He also said his biggest priorities were to make it easier to run a charity or social enterprise, to encourage more resources for the sector and strengthen its independence through the expansion of the social investment market, and to make life easier for charities that do business with government.
http://bit.ly/cEMEcD