Sector News

The newsletter looks ahead at an Autumn packed with activities and events. GM Poverty Action also have an article about Stockport Homes’ very successful Your Local Pantry model with details about the help that is available if you would like to set one up.

If you are a Community Interest Company (CIC) you can apply to convert directly to a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). The Charity Commission has published guidance on how to convert a CIC to CIO under the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Conversion) Regulations which came into force on 1 September 2018.

The Manchester Safeguarding Boards (MSB) comprises the Manchester Safeguarding Adults Board (MSAB) and the Manchester Safeguarding Children Boards (MSCB). The Boards share an Independent Chair, Julia Stephens-Row; and are supported by the MSB Business Unit.

The Digital Reporters Scheme provides support and training for people who want to broaden their skills and portfolio in digital media to improve their chances of gaining employment within the creative industries.

Most employers use employment references as part of their recruitment process. It's important to know the rules around references, whether you're asking for or supplying them.

The Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC) has recovered over one million pounds in benefits for people in Greater Manchester since opening in 2016. The benefits include financial support for those unable to work and payments to assist with costs caused by long term ill-health or disability.

Are you an existing community business in England? Looking for funding and support to make your business more sustainable? The Community Business Fund provides grants between £50,000 and £300,000 to help you progress towards self-sufficiency.

A joint initiative by the Big Lottery Fund, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) and Local Trust, ‘Creative Civic Change’ will support communities to address specific social issues and make positive changes in their areas.

The Mayoral Communities Challenge consists of two phases.

Phase one focuses on communities and neighbourhoods and will concentrate on looking at age-friendly places across Greater Manchester that are making a difference to older people’s everyday lives. The deadline for all phase one submissions is midnight, Saturday 1 December 2018.

Thrive is UnLtd’s new social accelerator helping ambitious social ventures to scale.

UnLtd will support over 25 social ventures a year through Thrive. UnLtd will support two groups of social ventures developing solutions in two distinct areas:
• Improving access to employment for those distant from the labour market
• Developing products and services for an ageing society