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Voluntary Arts England > news > current news
Can you add some sparkle to our office wall? - posted 31.8.2010 
Voluntary Arts England have recently moved to a lovely new office – good times. The walls though are as bare as they can be – bad times. We know that there are some incredibly talented people reading this right now – would any of you like to donate a piece of your art to us so that we can hang it on our wall?
Send us a photo of your piece (not the original), its dimensions and any additional information that you would like us to know about the piece and we will choose our favourite, have it couriered up to us and make sure that everyone who visits our office knows how thoroughly talented you are!
We will be sure to also include your artwork and details in a future e-newsletter so that everyone can see your handiwork.
Send a photo of your artwork to mary@vaengland.org.uk
Arts Council England publish Stakeholder Focus research - posted 31.8.2010 
In 2009 Arts Council England (ACE) launched a programme of research to examine current attitudes towards it, with the aim of understanding ACE’s areas of strength and areas that needed improvement.
On the whole, responses reflected a lot of goodwill towards the Arts Council with stakeholders feeling engaged and positive about ACE’s direction. However, some felt that more could be achieved in the way of building a more coherent, unified and collaborative arts sector.
There were some questions around ACE’s wider remit as champion for the arts among the public and its role as a bridge between arts and other areas of public life. Although many considered ACE to be first and foremost a funding body, it was broadly agreed that ACE must also present a unified voice for the sector, looking to bring about the best possible outcomes for the sector in general.
ACE are hoping to repeat the survey next year with aim of measuring improvement in their services and interactions with stakeholders.
Download a copy of the published results and ACE’s response from www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication_archive/arts-council-stakeholder-focus-research/
source: NCA Managers of volunteers undervalued and underfunded - new research published - posted 31.8.2010
A new report published today reveals the need for more training and development for managers of volunteers. It shows that nearly half of people who manage volunteers have not received any training that would help them in their work.
The report, Valuing Volunteer Management, canvassed opinion from over 1000 third sector organisations, and was commissioned by Skills - Third Sector, the charity working to make it easier for people in charities and social enterprises to have people with the right skills. The report highlights that, despite the availability of training, advice and support, people who manage volunteers are not aware of how to access this. This is especially true of those managing volunteers in smaller organisations, as with low incomes or few members of staff they often exist in isolation.
Key findings:
• 42% of people who manage volunteers have not received any training that would help in their work with volunteers
• members of networks were considerably more likely to access training and support than those who weren't members - 74 % compared to 49 %
• there is strong demand for additional training and skills development across the range of functions outlined in the National Occupational Standards in the management of volunteers.
• many organisations rely greatly on the local and national volunteering infrastructure for advice and support, particularly on local Volunteer Centres
The report also calls for further research to explore:
• the trend towards using volunteers to manage other volunteers
• the differing skills sets required for managing volunteers in different sizes of organisations
Download 'Valuing Volunteer Management Skills' report (PDF)
Your guide to organising a street party or fete - posted 31.8.2010
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced a ban on the reams of forms, high costs and red tape getting in the way of communities organising street parties and summer fetes.
From now on, instead of organisers being met with endless, confusing guidelines on food licences, road closures and insurance - councils can ask street party organisers to complete one simple form.
Previously, some small community groups were asked to apply for up to five separate licences and found it tricky to get upfront advice on what to do. They also found out about hidden costs right at the last minute, causing delays or cancellations to community events.
The 'Your guide to organising a street party or fete' form is available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/streetpartyguide.
National Youth Agency rewards successful participation with young people - posted 31.8.2010 
Organisations that put young people’s participation at the heart of service delivery and development are being given the chance to apply for a new award.
The National Youth Agency Hear by Right Award has been developed to help organisations that take the voice of young people seriously showcase their achievements and the contribution of the young people they work with.
The Hear by Right Award has been designed to be flexible and can be accessed at any of the three levels – Bronze, Silver or Gold. Organisations applying for the Award measure themselves against different indicators across each of the seven Hear by Right Standards, depending on which level they want to achieve.
To find out more about Hear by Right and the new Award, visit www.nya.org.uk/quality/hear-by-right or sign up to a half day Hear By Right Bitesized and Badgeable workshop at www.nya.org.uk/events
source: ENYAN Why the Arts Matter - posted 31.8.2010
Arts Council England is leading a campaign on just ‘why the arts matter’ highlighting to MPs and Ministers how the arts sector represents a great investment; boosting tourism, the creative industries and contributing to the social and community agenda, all for the equivalent of 17p per person per week, They have produced a useful toolkit, listing arguments to protect the arts and a guide to working with MPs.
Mary Lowe, England Coordinator has used some of the arguments to focus on the voluntary arts in a letter to Nick Brown, MP for Newcastle East. Write to your MP and encourage your members to do so to keep the arts on the political agenda.
More: www.artscouncil.org.uk/about-us/why-arts-matter
Classic FM Searches for Music Teacher of the Year 2010 - posted 31.8.2010  deadline: 4 October 2010
Classic FM has teamed up with Avid Sibelius, Yamaha and Music for Youth once again to recognise and reward the nation’s most inspirational music teachers.
This is your chance to nominate a music teacher who you know always gives 100% to their pupils and instils passion for their subject to a new generation of music lovers.
As well as recognising primary and secondary school music teachers, the awards also pay tribute to peripatetic music teachers, those who work with children with special needs and newly qualified music teachers. And for those who have made music teaching their life's work, there's an award for Lifetime Achievement.
The closing date for nominations is 4 October 2010 and the awards will be presented at the Music For Youth Schools Proms over three nights at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 – 10 November 2010.
More: http://bit.ly/d7PM8i
source: MusicLeader Guide - Careers in Dance - posted 31.8.2010
Do you want a career in dance but not necessarily performing and unsure of your options? Youth Dance England have put together a user-friendly guide to Careers in Dance which highlights the various professions in the industry.
This is a great resource for teachers and youth dance leaders who are providing careers advice to young dancers and also for the young dancers themselves.
Please follow the link below to the YDE website and download the guide.
www.yde.org.uk/main.cfm?Type=CPDF
source: Theatre Works Community Cinema Volunteers Club Together in London - posted 31.8.2010 area: Institut Français, London
dates: 18-19 September 2010
On 18-19 September 2010 volunteers from community cinemas across the UK will gather in London for the National Conference for Community Cinemas and the Film Society of the Year Awards, organised by the British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS).
Focusing on the theme of Film Education, the weekend’s activities will comprise training sessions, film screenings and networking opportunities – culminating in the Film Society of the Year Awards ceremony, at which delegates and special guests will celebrate the hard work and achievements of community cinema volunteers throughout the past year.
This year’s Film Society of the Year Awards will be presented by Francine Stock – writer, broadcaster and presenter of Radio 4’s The Film Programme, and esteemed film critic and BFFS President Derek Malcolm. The National Conference will be held at the Institut Français in London’s South Kensington, where sessions comprising expert panels, hands-on workshops and peer-to-peer discussions will strengthen the role of the community cinema in bringing film education to wider audiences across the UK.
Delegates will be treated to film screenings in the beautifully refurbished Ciné Lumière. Confirmed titles include delicate Peruvian drame Undertow (Contracorriente), a pre-release screening of eye-opening documentary Countdown to Zero, a special screening of the French classic La Règle du jeu and Hidden Herstories – a compilation of inspirational short films about exceptional women made by young filmmakers in a project coordinated by the Octavia Foundation. Each screening will be accompanied by examples of best practice in film education – including introductions, discussions, Q&As with special guests, programme notes and audience reaction assessment.
The National Conference 2010 is sponsored by non-theatrical distributors Filmbank. The Film Society of the Year Awards is sponsored by independent copyright licensing agency Motion Picture Licensing Company (MPLC). Event supporters include UK Film Council, Institut Français and Sheffield Hallam University.
The BFFS National Conference is the only national event dedicated to the needs and interests of film societies and not-for-profit community cinemas. It is the annual opportunity for the community cinema sector to get together, share ideas and celebrate community exhibition.
To find out more, or to book a place, go to http://bffs.org.uk/newsandevents/news/natconfbookings.html
One-stop source for UK legislation - posted 31.8.2010 
A new official website provides access to UK legislation from 1267 to the present. Legislation.gov.uk brings together legislative content from Office of Public Sector Information and the Statute Law Database. Managed by the National Archives it aims to provide access to current and historic laws in a ‘clear and simple’ format.
www.legislation.gov.uk
source: VolResource |
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