Management matters

David Davison explains why organisations inheriting pensions debt from the public sector should consider legal action AT the end of March the EU approved plans to allow the UK Government to provide the Royal Mail Group (RMG) with financial support relating to “excessive pension costs” and to provide restructuring aid consisting of a debt reduction

Motivating volunteers is similar to motivating paid employees, john lee from Volunteer Development Scotland explains HELPING volunteers to thrive and develop is an age-old conundrum for the people who manage them. How do you strike the right balance between offering each individual a chance for personal growth without making the challenge seem too much like

Sir Ronald Cohen, chair of the recently launched Big Society Capital, explains how it can inject much needed funding into Scotland’s third sector Big Society Capital was launched last week with committed capital of around £600 million from dormant bank accounts and the main four UK high street banks. It was an idea originally proposed

Pat Armstrong explains how a leadership exchange programme between the third sector and the Scottish Government is improving knowledge in both areas. THIRD sector leaders gain an insight into the different cultures, languages, constraints and opportunities that their counterparts in the Scottish Government work with, as a result of the Association of Chief Officers of

Bruce Laidlaw of the MS Therapy Centre, Lothian explains the trials and tribulations of rebranding. IF you are a small local charity which raises the bulk of its income from public donations – then there is quite a lot in a name. Six years ago the organisation I chair was known by the acronym ARMS

Speaking to an audience can be daunting for some but effective preparation will instill confidence, insists Maryanne Johnston AS we prepare to start a New Year in business, many company directors and chief executives will be planning their diaries and looking to prepare for forthcoming speeches and presentations. This will include positive words of encouragement

Thomas Coles considers some of the technological opportunities the third sector can take advantage of this year THE third sector has experienced an abundance of strain over the past two years, not least financial. Between 2010 and 2011, 2,000 charities had funding cut or withdrawn whilst 1,600 charitable organisations folded. Major events planned during 2012,

Alan Eccles explains why good governance means clear relationships between trustees, members and staff

Matt Tyrer explains how to use equality and human rights based approaches to fight for service users’ rights, and better highlight the positive impact of the voluntary sector’s work during tough economic times

Growing numbers of interns in the third sector raise legal issues over when they should be paid or unpaid, says Amanda Jones

Final salary pensions schemes run the risk of pulling charities into debt or even insolvency, explains David Davison

Steve Briggs from Law At Work explains some of the perils of social media in relation to employment law BUSINESS and employee use of social networking websites is rapidly emerging as one of the hottest employment law and human resources issues of 2012. In the first three weeks of the year there were media reports

The Cranfield Trust’s free consultancy service is helping Scottish voluntary sector organisations contend with unprecedented levels of change

MARTIN GILL examines the risk of Scottish charities going bust as a result of final salary pension schemes

Jo Lewis explains how Adopt an Intern is boosting opportunities for graduates and for charities

Changing a group’s status to become an incorporated organisation has many advantages but the switch won’t suit everyone, writes PETER SHAND THERE has been an encouraging response to the legislation, enacted on 1 April 2011, which permitted those charities in Scotland without company status to apply to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator to become

Mark Jackson, partner at Rawlinsons, explains how charities can make the most of Gift Aid THE Gift Aid scheme has proved an invaluable source of income for charities, worth around £1 billion annually to good causes. Once the processes are in place, it is a straightforward way for charities to increase the value of cash

The SROI Network says its seven principles are helping to create a consistant social impact measurement tool

Setting up community energy projects is easier than you think

Volunteering management is essential to ensuring the best possible experience for volunteers, according to ALAN GREENWOOD of Volunteer Development Scotland

Ethics are central to business models in the third sector,  Alison Smith explains how this moral compass can enhance your brand and boost profits  LAST week a colleague told me about a well-known private sector research company which went into liquidation owing money to sub-contractors, most of whom are unlikely to now be paid. Sadly,

Tough economic times creates challenges for charities, however GREGOR McNIE explains why now is the perfect time to focus energies on fundraising

The Highlands and Islands are fully embracing social enterprise to promote community development. David Bryan believes lessons can be learnt from their progress

A new concept in storing and accessing information can revolutionise the way charities work, says NEIL

The new age of financial austerity shows no sign of ending, Paula McCormack explains why charities and social enterprises must change their perspective

There are few laws to protect volunteers, writes John Lee, but organisations should be aware of their rights VOLUNTEERING can be a tricky thing to pin down and define in a neat and tidy way. This isn’t a bad thing but sometimes (particularly when questions about good practice arise) it can be useful to look

There are tools that can help you take your first steps to measuring social impact, explains Emma Vallance

Doing a social impact assessment can seem daunting, ALAN KAY suggests ways to ease the process. “Social auditing is not simply a means of documenting objectives and shared values, but of understanding them, strengthening them, communicating them to others, and where necessary changing them.” SBN Bank I WAS asked recently why I still hammer on

It is not always clear when trustees can and should refuse a donation on ethical grounds. Alan Eccles provides some pointers

VOLUNTEER managers often have a hard time approaching volunteers about inappropriate behaviour, or even just giving a volunteer constructive advice on how they can carry out their role more effectively. The prevailing attitude can often be, “Oh, he/she’s just a volunteer” or “I can’t say that to a volunteer.” Yet volunteers should be approached if

“Social and ethical accounting is not for softies or funks. It takes guts to hang your dirty linen in public and to walk your talk.” Jorgen Giversen, former CEO of SBN Bank   I HAVE worked with social and community enterprises for a long time – even in those days when they were called community

There are increasing legal challenges for charity trustees but simple measures can smooth the way, says Alan Eccles

Is social investments just another fashionable phrase, or can charities really create a return on investment, asks ROBERT ASHTON “Small charities don’t take loans,” said an indignant Debra Allcock Tyler recently. As she is the chief executive of the Directory of Social Change, I’d have hoped she’d have been more forward thinking. After all, as

Ensuring volunteers have a positive experience and look forward to volunteering in the future is as important as recruitment, writes John Lee

Pensions expert David Davidson explains some of the issues that housing associations still tied into the SFHA pension scheme should be considering in

It’s not all about what your volunteers can do for you – VDS’s Kenneth Fee gives hints and tips on holding on to volunteers   Whether it’s the debate around the Big Society, helping people into work or the reform of public services, volunteering issues currently have a very high profile. Those who already have

YOU might be forgiven for thinking this is another 1 April gag, but news of the arrival of the new Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) has been verified by the highest authorities. After years of sector lobbying and development, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is open for SCIO business. What is the SCIO?

Ensuring your charity’s name is known doesn’t have to cost a fortune but your media plan may need to be better, smarter and cleverer says Christina Cran. THERE’S never been a more urgent time for the third sector to have a voice. SCVO’s Gathering was filled with everything the sector has to say. Future public service

If employers need good recruits and graduates need experience, there is a solution in the form of paid internships, says Joy Lewis LET’S be honest, now is not a good time to be a graduate. The economic crisis has created a situation whereby over a million 16 to 24 years olds are unemployed in the

Voluntary organisations playing music may not realise that they now need to get a new licence. STEPHEN McGOWAN explains. Readers may be unfamiliar with Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) – but if your organisation ever uses any sort of music, then that is about to change and you must read on. PPL issues licences which are required