News

On this page you will find the latest edition of BAVO's Newsletter and up to date information on a range of issues that affect the voluntary sector and may be particularly relevant to your organisation.

Keep coming back to check for updates.

Latest BAVO Newsletter

The latest edition of the BAVO newsletter is available here.

The next newsletter distribution is w/c 27th February 2012.

Safer Future Communities briefing

Please click here (English version) here (Welsh version) for the first policy briefing document from the Safer Future Communities project. If you recall, this is a Home Office funded project covering England and Wales, and WCVA is a member of the project consortium, with a brief to help third sector groups across Wales to prepare for the introduction of 4 elected Police and Crime Commissioners who will replace the 4 Police Authorities in November 2012.

This is the first policy briefing and it is very much focused on the big picture at a UK level, to give you a better understanding of why this new development is happening. Over the coming weeks and months though I will need to ensure that this information concerns the specific issues and challenges in Wales, so please expect more information and a range of events across Wales.

Even though it is still early days for the project, the intended broad direction is that community safety networks come together in the four Police Authority areas in Wales, with a view to being able to articulate the specific community safety priorities in each of the 4 areas.

The Home Office are planning events for Wales in March (more on this from me in the new year) and the outgoing Police Authorities will also no doubt have their own plans for events to help with this transition to an important new structure and future community safety commissioning landscape, and possibly local Community Safety Partnerships will be gearing up with information and events too.

Patient Opinion in Wales

Patient Opinion is a not for profit social enterprise, which through its award winning website platform at www.patientopinion.org.uk is offering a new way for patients, service users, carers and relatives throughout Wales to feedback their experiences of care and treatment.

Patient Opinion is for all but particularly useful for people that are unable to feedback in other ways for example those in rural communities or isolated because of their situation, Patient Opinion offers a simple way to anonymously feedback experiences by going to the website, sending opinions through the post or telephoning 0845 1130012. Therefore a wider range of patient and user experience will all come together in an easily accessible place.

Download more information here and testimonials here.

National and Local Support Groups / Helpline Information

Download a helpline information sheet with a range of local and national support organisation . If you need any other specialist help, please get in touch with BAVO and we will be happy to signpost you.

'Support When You Need It'

As part of the Welsh Assembly Government's response to help people, businesses and communities through the current global recession, they have recently luanched a new section to their website entitled 'Leading Wales out of the recession'. To view visit www.wales.gov.uk.

In addition they have produced a leaflet 'Support When You Need It' which has been developed as a one-stop-shop for advice on where to get support for individuals affected by the economic downturn.

Download the leaflet.

All Wales Child Protection Procedures

The new All Wales Child Protection Procedures are now available, hopefully hard copies will be available from BAVO soon. To download a copy visit resources and downloads page.

New Plain Language Constitution for Community Groups

A new plain language constitution has been produced by the Welsh Office of the Charity Commission in partnership with WCVA, BAVO and other other Welsh CVC's. It is designed to meet the needs of small groups who are looking to formally establish themselves with the minimum of fuss. It is based on the participants' combined experience of community development and charity law, together with many years of working with governing documents and community groups. The constitution is only 600 words long and covers all the requirements needed for a well run group. It has been designed primarily for groups with an income of less than £5000 a year (below the charity registration threshold), which don't need to be incorporated.

Download the model constitution.

New Service Offered to BAVO Members

A group's most important document is its constitution but with so many small organisations not having an office base, keeping this document safe, when committee members or Trustees come and go, can be a big problem.

BAVO is now offering a new free service to members - we can safeguard your original, signed and dated constitution, keeping it on file in BAVO's main office. We can also provide a scanned electronic copy for you so that you have a convenient copy when required. Members can either bring a disc in, or we can provide one at cost, either way you can feel confident the original is being kept safe.

If you would like to discuss this service further please contact us on 01656 810400 or bavo@bavo.org.uk

Voluntary Sector Partnership Council

In pursuit of its intention to work effectively with the voluntary sector, as laid down in Chapter 3 of the Voluntary Sector Scheme, the Assembly has established a Voluntary Sector Partnership Council. For general information on the VSPC visit the WAG website.

What is a Voluntary Sector partnership?

A partnership means that the voluntary sector:

has an equal say with the Assembly about the arrangements by which the Assembly and the voluntary sector will work together
will contribute at a formative stage in informing the development of policy and programmes across the Assembly and has its proposals assessed against the same criteria as the public sector
contributes its views on the procedures for the administration of resources and priorities for the distribution of resources for the voluntary sector
has access to its own information, training, and capacity building services and resources
has opportunities to lead in those areas where it is best placed to do so

This Council consists of eleven Assembly Members and twenty-four representatives appointed from the voluntary sector.

A review of the Scheme has recently been completed and an Action Plan developed.

You can view Voluntary Sector documents on the Welsh Assembly Government website.