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Trial of single government website

The 'beta' (trial) version of the proposed single government website (which would eventually replace Directgov) is now live at https://www.gov.uk and feedback is welcomed at http://getsatisfaction.com/govuk.

News release at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/beta-government-single-domain-released.

Evidence review of sector delivering employment services

The author of a Third Sector Research Centre review says that "There is a tremendous lack of evidence about the third sector in (delivering employment services)." It questions whether the current Work Programme's framework will allow them to fulfil their potential in this area.

Volunteering and Citizen Involvement in Wales

'Volunteering and Citizen Involvement in Wales - Looking to the Future' is a paper written by Wales Council for Voluntary Action in consultation with volunteer centres, county voluntary councils and others.

In Word format, 233KB, via http://www.wcva.org.uk/news/dsp_news.cfm?newsid=1788.

Good practice in working with young people

The Big Lottery Fund has produced seven good practice guides for organisations working with young people, based on projects it has supported.

Titles include Encouraging active citizenship, Actively involving young people and Working with young carers. http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/er_yp_gp.htm.

Charity training on a budget, online

Martin Baker from Charity Learning Consortium discusses the role of e-learning, including via social media, in ensuring that charity staff get adequate continuing professional development (CPD) every year.

On The Guardian's Voluntary Sector Network.

Data protection advisory visits

Charities as well as small businesses are being encouraged to invite an 'advisory visit' from the Information Commissioner's Office to provide advice on issues relating to data protection. This is an alternative to a full-blown audit, and involves a one day visit from a member of ICO's good practice team to see what they do with data and how they do it.

Work accident reporting change

From 6th April, subject to parliamentary approval, the requirement under RIDDOR to report any accident which results in incapacitation of over three days will change to only reporting if the incident results in over seven days' incapacity.

Employers and others with responsibilities under RIDDOR must still keep a record of all over-three-day injuries (if the employer has to keep an accident book, then this record will be enough). RIDDOR = Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.

Collating social media and charity news

Our Storify trial continues over on CharityBlog - start at the home page http://charityblog.org.uk/wp/. It features material thrown up by your editor's regular trawl of social media networks, charity news and other web links which might not quite make the grade for the newsletter, but is still of interest.

Produced roughly daily, with a funding round-up on Friday and all the previous week brought together on Monday, although that may change. Suggestions for, and opinions on, this resource welcome.

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