The Charity Commission is to launch a public consultation in the New Year on the requirement for registered child care charities to obtain CRB checks for their trustees.

The latest issue of Newsbites is attached to this post.

Inadequate volunteer insurance creates problems - Volunteering England's risk blog reports on a case where a volunteer car driver had to pay his own costs to defend an action against him from a charity client. [Voluntary Sector news]

Information about some interesting looking traing courses has landed on my desk.

Organised by the Trust for the Study of Adolescence they cover

• building resiliance in young people,
• the effects of neglect and abuse, d
• eveloping positive self esteem in young people,
• the prevention of suicide and young people 
• self harm.

Details of these and other course may be otained from the Trusts web site - or by downloading the documents attached to this post.

Computer and internet for local groups - Next round of applications open for BT Community Connections, the scheme which has awarded more than 4,600 internet-ready PCs to local community and voluntary organisations. [Voluntary Sector news]

In his Pre-Budget report yesterday, Gordon Brown talked about the future role of the third sector (don't like that term) following the review which has been carried out by his office, in consultation with the sector. He is particularly concerned with the future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration.

The main points he made are -

follow this link for more details

Amending Freedom of Information - Government proposals on changes to the Freedom of Information Act could have a serious impact on obtaining official documents. [Voluntary Sector news]

Have you heard of the Common Assesment Framework?  Do you know what a Lead Professional is?

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and Lead Professional (LP) working are a key part of the Change for Children programme which attempts to transform services for children with additional needs so that the child's, rather than the services', needs are at the centre.

This change agenda is led by five linked outcomes (be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being), which require a holistic understanding of children.

The ChangeUp hubs are to lose their commissioning powers from Spring next year but have been thrown a lifeline with the announcement that Capacitybuilders will continue to fund them until March 2008.

At its meeting last Wednesday, the Capacitybuilders board adopted a number of recommendations from chief executive Simon Hebditch as to the most effective model for boosting the efficacy of the sector.

Issue 5 of RUCKUS, the NYA's online magazine for young people is available for free download. RUCKUS brings together articles and includes contributions from young people.