VoluntaryNews

A new government consultation is on draft guidance to water and sewerage companies on concessionary schemes for community groups, which would protect them from unaffordable surface water drainage charges.

A Cultural Workforce Survey has been launched by the National Campaign for the Arts to gather data from everyone who works in the cultural sector, including board members/trustees and volunteers. Expected to be repeated annually, they will build evidence about employment in the sector and to understand challenges and potential for change.

Complete the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PYXWVMS - no closing date given.

(Source: Voluntary Arts England newsletter)

An interim report has been published by the Volunteer Rights Inquiry, set up by Volunteering England following a number of high profile cases of volunteers being poorly treated by organisations.

Skills Third Sector has launched a consultation on developing a National Skills Strategy as a crucial tool for supporting a skilled workforce.

Consultation events around England have already started but continue in September. There is also an online questionnaire, closing date 1st October.

See http://www.skills-thirdsector.org.uk/research_policy/skills_strategy_consultation/.

The Information Commissioner's Office has launched a new Code of Practice on how organisations should use personal information, which explains how the Data Protection Act applies to the collection and use of personal data online. It provides good practice advice for organisations that do business or provide services online, asking them "be straight with consumers" so that people know why their personal information is being collected, how it will be used and who else may end up seeing it.

A guide to help organisations get ready for working in collaboration has been produced as part of the Collaboration Benefits Programme run by the community organisations body Bassac.

Compact Voice has a new national Priority Areas Programme after a pilot in 2009, which gives tailored support over six months to help with the implementation of a Local Compact.

It is open to all regions in England, and for Compacts (agreements between the local voluntary and public sectors) at all stages, applications by 13th August.

Third Sector reports that more than thirty recycling charities in London are to work together as part of a new London Reuse Network, to present a one-stop-shop for reuse collections, restorations, and redistribution in London, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/1015440/, or see http://www.lcrn.org.uk/projects/london-reuse-network.