Voscur Trustee and Sector Leader Suzanne Thompson is CEO of The Restore Trust. In this article she explains why the latest probation reforms need to go further to ensure voluntary sector involvement.

I was among the many who welcomed the proposed reforms of the probation service last month.

Homeless Link and Housing Justice have launched a survey targeted at small charities (under £1 million income), community groups and/or faith-based groups working on homelessness. This is a chance to share your experiences, the challenges you are facing and your views on the government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy, as well as the hard work you are doing to help those experiencing homelessness. The findings will be shared directly with central government and will help identify what their key priorities should be.

The National Council of Volunteer Organisations (NCVO) has announced that Karl Wilding will take over as its new Chief Executive later this year.

He is currently the organisation’s Director of public policy and volunteering and will move into the role in the autumn.

The Fundraising Regulator has launched its new and improved Fundraising Code of Practice, which will come into effect on 1 October 2019.

The new code was developed following a consultation that ran during autumn 2018.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) has launched a hotline for whistleblowers.

The hotline is operated independently by whistleblowing charity, Protect.

The number is: 0800 055 7214

The operator will help you to explain:

The number of organisations funded through Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) was down by one third in the year 2017-18 according to new figures released by HM Revenue & Customs.

Only 20 social enterprises received investment through the scheme during the period, with £1.4 million in funds raised.

Sector Leader report: Health & Wellbeing Board

Sector Leader: Elaine Flint

Date of meeting: 22 May 2019

Relevant discussions:

This was the first development meeting – an informal meeting which takes place between the formal HWBB ones.

Policy round-up: Spring 2019