Frontline Society

The annual SMK (Sheila McKechnie) Campaigner Awards provide a support programme for emerging and grassroots campaigners.

Details of how to apply for the awards for 2010 are now available, with categories in Consumer Action, Environment, International, Local, London Social Justice, Shout Out! (for young campaigners), Social Inclusion and Transport.

The general election has now been called for 6th May, so here's a link to NCVO's round-up of advice on 'Charities Campaigning and Elections', which includes a useful Frequently Asked Questions section.

The new Vetting and Barring Scheme includes a category of controlled activity, as opposed to the main regulated activity category, which covers certain posts in further education, healthcare, and local authorities.

A government consultation is exploring whether to simplify the scheme and reduce burdens on employers by removing the controlled activity category, moving some of the types of activity into regulated activity, and lifting the requirements entirely for the remaining roles.

'Personalisation and support brokerage in adult social care - a briefing for advice organisations and services', from AdviceUK, is available (pdf, 118KB) via bassac website, http://www.bassac.org.uk/node/817.

It would be of interest to those thinking about support brokerage in the personalisation of services and gives some helpful background.

The Council for Disabled Children has published 'Influencing for Impact: a guide to influencing policy and politicians for the disabled children's voluntary sector'. Issues covered include lobbying for amendments to legislation, encouraging MPs to lay down early day motions and private members bills.

In pdf, 245KB, http://www.ncb.org.uk/pdf/influencing_for_impact.pdf.

From Play England, 'People Make Play: The impact of staffed play provision on children, families and communities' shows how staffed play services, often run by the community and voluntary sector, are an increasingly vital element in the multi-agency approach to improving outcomes for children, families and communities.

Pdf download, 920KB, http://www.playengland.org.uk/resources/people-make-play.pdf.

A review of the law around adult social care is being undertaken by the Law Commission to provide a clearer, modern and more cohesive legislative framework for adult residential care, community care, adult protection and support for carers.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland, set up by the Carnegie Foundation, has come up with its final report and a set of recommendations for action.