JGP News

Two empty flats in Wales have been turned into a community centre thanks to an £80,000 grant.

Walesonline.co.uk reports that the centre will be used by such charities and organisations as Age Concern, Lone Parents, Communities First and Homestart.

The council flats in Garnlydan, near Ebbw Vale, have been converted into one large venue using the money from the Heads of the Valleys Sustainable Regeneration Fund.

Welsh Assembly Government deputy minister for regeneration, Leighton Andrews, called the new centre "a great resource for the local community".

The project was organised by the Ebbw Vale and District Development Trust along with the Rassae and Garnlydan Communities First Partnership Board.

Build Wales and a local contractor then carried out the work.

Meanwhile, those working in e-recruitment may be interested to hear that mobile working technology firm Consilium Technologies is supporting a property regeneration investment in the north-east.

Its TotalMobile technology will help staff handle rent and repair updates remotely for over 5,500 properties in the £80 million project.

PublicTechnology.net reports that housing authority Wansbeck Homes is using TotalMobil to help its maintenance teams.

More e-recruitment information.

There will be an increase in the number of environmentally-friendly homes made over in the UK in years to come, it has been claimed.

In news that could help organisations to maintain sustainable efficiencies, according to GreenMoves, more green houses will be constructed in order to meet new legislation from the government over carbon reductions in the domestic sector.

But Julian Brooks, managing director of the organisation, has stated that the extra cost of producing an environmentally-friendly home - sometimes as much as ten per cent more than a normal house - is "a problem".

"They can cost more to build, say up to five to ten per cent more on construction value dependent upon the level of green you want to achieve," he said.

Meanwhile, research from the Sponge Sustainability Network from January 2007 found that more than half of the people in the UK were prepared to pay more for green houses, while 92 per cent would like related features offered in their homes.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

Moves to cut red tape for those working for charities have been unveiled, it has emerged.

Proposals by Phil Hope, minister for the third sector, could result in some 33,000 registered voluntary groups - the equivalent of about a fifth of all charities - dealing with less regulation from the 2009-10 financial year.

Under the plans, the income threshold above which charities must prepare accruals accounts will rise from £100,000 to £250,000.

It was also suggested that some 37,000 third sector bodies may no longer need to have their accounts externally examined should they earn less than £25,000.

And in news that could help organisations to maintain sustainable efficiencies, it was stated the changes will be of particular benefit to leaders at small charities as they will not have to spend the majority of their time filling out forms.

Mr Hope claimed that it is important for voluntary and community groups "to focus as much time as possible on their core purpose which is why I am delighted that these changes will see the administrative burdens of thousands of charities reduced".

Earlier this week, proposals by the Department of Communities and Local Government suggested that local authorities may soon be able to implement byelaws focusing on improving community safety without first being required to get Whitehall approval.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

A fundraising initiative targeting those working for charities is set to get underway once more later this year, it has been revealed.

The scheme, which is operated by Will Aid, will see solicitors draw up wills for their clients. However, instead of charging for their services legal professionals will ask their customers to donate the fee which they would normally charge to charity, ThirdSector.co.uk reports.

Among the network partners in the Will Aid scheme are the charities Help the Aged, Save the Children and Christian Cross, although people are able to make donations to any voluntary group of their choosing.

Shirley Marsland, campaign manager for Will Aid, claimed that for those legacy managers who are looking for a way in which "to turn your supporters” good intentions into reality, Will Aid is a really effective way to encourage people to actually get on and make that will or add a codicil to an existing will".

It was revealed that the previous initiative held in 2006 resulted in over £5 million being raised for charity.

Such news could be of interest to those third sector groups wishing to maintain sustainable efficiencies.

Earlier this week a partnership between Phoenix Community Radio Station 96.7 and Yahoo! was revealed which will see internet search carried out on third sector bodies” websites to help generate revenue.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

The government has announced plans to introduce new legislation targeting those working for local authorities, it has been revealed.

In proposals unveiled by the Department of Communities and Local Government it was revealed that local councils may have the power to create and sanction byelaws - which are aimed at improving community safety - without necessarily having to get approval from Whitehall.

Such news could be of interest to those working for public sector bodies who wish to improve the skills framework of their organisation.

Hazel Blears, communities secretary, said: "For the first time councils could now be able to set, sign and now sanction local laws without central government approval."

She went on to claim that this will make it easier for local authorities to improve the wellbeing of their community, cut down on red tape and confront problems in their area.

Earlier this month it was revealed that the nine new unitary authorities which will be set up next year will have complete control over setting up new parish councils.

More skills framework information.