What's new
The latest news and policy updates from the Office of the Third Sector.
Minister attends launch of the UK Catalyst Awards - the Community Awards for Social Technology
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector yesterday helped to formally launch the UK Catalyst Awards, following the Prime Minister’s announcement in July 2007 that the Government would support a new awards scheme to recognise ways of utilising existing and widely-owned technology for social ends.
Plan for standard measure of social return on investment
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, speaking at a groundbreaking social investment conference, Good Deals, has announced a new programme of work to help standardise and improve how social return on investment is measured.
Involve appointed to undertake research into effective and innovative consultation with the third sector
The Office of the Third Sector has appointed a consortium led by Involve and comprising GuideStar and Headshift to undertake a research project looking at effective and innovative consultation with the third sector.
Contract to deliver the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations currently out to tender
The Office of the Third Sector is commissioning a national survey on the environment for a thriving third sector. It will measure performance at the 149 upper tier local authority district level in England.
vinvolved, England's biggest ever youth volunteering programme, begins
The new £75 million national youth volunteering programme vinvolved begins in April 2008. The aim of the programme is to involve 500,000 more young people aged 16-25 to volunteer in England over the next three years.
PR agency Consolidated selected to work on the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
The Office of the Third Sector has appointed Consolidated to provide communications support for the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises excellence in volunteering carried out in local communities throughout the UK, it is the most prestigious award in its field and is equivalent in status to the MBE.
Good Deals! Social investment conference on May 6th
Billionaire venture capitalist Sir Tom Hunter is to be a keynote speaker at the UK’s first annual social investment conference, ‘Good Deals’, in London on Tuesday 6th May. Presented by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in partnership with NESTA, Good Deals will bring together a wide range of high profile contributors to debate and learn about new opportunities for financing social change.
Futurebuilders Advisory Panel publishes final report
The Futurebuilders Advisory Panel has published its final report to ministers. Since it was created in 2005, the Panel, Chaired by Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, has been on 120 visits to organisations that have had experience in applying to Futurebuilders and has worked closely with Futurebuilders England and OTS staff.
Chair of new Third Sector Advisory Body announced
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, has appointed Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE as the Chair of the new Office of the Third Sector’s Advisory Body. Reporting to the Minister her role will be to drive forward the work of the Body, and be an honest broker and informed voice for the sector.
