Newsletter - April 2010
LawWorks for Community Groups
Welcome to the LawWorks for Community Groups newsletter featuring legal articles which may be of interest to small charities, community groups and social enterprises who have contacted us in the past. We aim to keep you updated on key legal developments affecting the charitable sector so that you can apply them to your own groups and obtain more legal knowledge. We hope you find the newsletter useful and interesting – please let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions!
Don't forget to have a look at our fact sheets for useful information on various areas of law. Our latest include advice on recruitment of staff, duties of trustees, an explanation of the new guide Memorandum and Articles of Association that have been published by the Charity Commission, and an explanation of the differences in the law applying to employees and volunteers.
Best wishes,
Ruth Thompson (Newsletter Editor)
In this issue:
LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2010 - shortlist announced
Free answers to brief legal questions: LawWorks Initial Electronic Advice
Small Charities Coalition reaches the 500 mark!
Events coming up: Charity Law Conference 2010 and Power Up - London
New Office of the Third Sector web pages on law and regulation
Official employer guidance on fit notes
Factsheet update on induction for new employees
Full guidance on Vetting and Barring Scheme for organisations
Supporting equalities through the law and the third sector
When does a fundraising "adventure activity" need a HSE license?
Stopping employment issues going to tribunal
Gambling Commission publishes updated advice on prize competitions and free draws
LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2010 - shortlist announced
We are very happy to announce the shortlist for our 2010 Awards, to be held on the 15th June. We had many fantastic nominations this year, and as always competition was very, very close. Unfortunately, we can't shortlist every nomination, although we would certainly like to! If your nomination was not shortlisted, rest assured that we will let the volunteer in question know how much you appreciated their help - thank you for all your great nominations!
Free answers to brief legal questions: LawWorks Initial Electronic Advice
Initial Electronic Advice is an automated, web-based system, which allows us to submit a short legal query and have this answered by a lawyer via email. Not for profit organisations and advice agencies can register online to submit questions for entry into the system.
The main legal areas we cover are: advertising, banking, building and construction, charity, clinical negligence, commercial, company, competition, construction, consumer, consumer credit, contract, corporate, costs, crime, debt, education, employment, energy, environment, EU, family, general litigation, health and safety, housing, immigration, insolvency, insurance, intellectual property, IT, landlord and tenant, mental health, mortgages, data protection, finance, insurance, pensions, personal injury, planning, property, public law, small claims, tax, telecoms, trust, welfare, wills and probate.
If you would like to register to submit questions, please see www.lawworksiea.org.uk, where you can also see more information on the service itself.
The LawWorks Choices project was established in July 2009 as a response to the recession, and the high numbers of solicitors being made redundant. Choices enables qualified volunteer solicitors to take part in pro bono work whilst they are seeking permanent employment. The Choices members are able to assist groups with legal advice, such as lease agreements, terms and conditions for competitions, employment issues, and many more. The volunteers are also able to produce factsheets on a legal topic for your organisation.
If you would like the assistance of a Choices volunteer, please contact Lorna Heselton at lh@lawworks.org.uk so that we may discuss your requirements.
Small Charities Coalition reaches the 500 mark!
In April 2010, the Small Charities Coalition (SCC) reached a new milestone after recruiting its 500th small charity - also referred to as a friend.
Since its inception 18 months back, SCC has been actively engaging with small charities providing help, advice and a platform of support, matching them with other charities and organisations that have the skills, experience, and in some cases resources that the small charity lacks.
Heather Rayment from Quest for Change, a small International development charity said: “We have very limited resources, in terms of finances and time. I also work alone which means that I do not have the support of a team of fundraisers or people who work in the charity sector around me to learn from. The Small Charities Coalition proved to be an invaluable resource. I got matched with someone from a bigger charity than us and got to learn from their considerable expertise on writing applications to Trusts and Foundations. Their advice was very specific and as a result invaluable. It is so useful to have someone else working in the same sector share their experience and knowledge with you. It gives you more faith in your own work and ability.”
Be a part of Small Charities Coalition’s next success story and sign up as a friend today.
For more information visit: www.smallcharities.org.uk or call 0207 391 4812
Events coming up:
- Charity Law Conference 2010, 20th May. Charity law made simple - a not to be missed event which includes practical workshops, the latest updates and useful information to take away and share with your colleagues.
- Power Up - London, 7-9th May : Friends of the Earth’s unique training weekend on the planning system and your legal rights.
New Office of the Third Sector web pages help third sector keep up to date with regulation
Office of the Third Sector, 1 Feb 2010
These pages should help people that run third sector organisations by highlighting recent and ongoing changes and initiatives that are intended to make life easier for them and providing links to where more detailed information can be found.
Full details and link to new pages
Official employer guidance on fit notes
VolResource, 25 February 2010
Guidance for employers on the use of the 'fit notes' system, replacing sick notes from 6th April, has been published by the Department of Work and Pensions.
Full guidance on Vetting and Barring Scheme for organisations and individuals
VolResource, 25 February 2010
The Home Office has now put online full guidance to help employers and voluntary groups implement the Vetting and Barring Scheme. It covers every aspect from who is covered to how the process works and the implementation timetable.
Supporting equalities through the law and the third sector
VolResource, 15 April 2010
'Keeping it legal: A Guide for third sector organisations on public law and equality rights' explores how groups can use public law to challenge unfair decision making (based on the law at September 2009).
When does a fundraising "adventure activity" need a HSE license?
VolResource, 18 February 2010
The Health and Safety Executive has issued an 'Inspector Guidance Note' under its Adventure Activities licensing remit which tries to answer the question "When does a fundraising event become a licensable situation?". A common fundraising activity such as "zip wire" is not in scope of licensing, while hill walking can be in some circumstances, so anyone doing this type of fundraising may wish to check.
Stopping employment issues going to tribunal
VolResource, 4 February 2010
Employment advisory service ACAS now has a pre-claim conciliation service (PCC) which aims to help save time, money and stress by tackling workplace issues early and preventing the cost of Employment Tribunals.
Gambling Commission publishes updated advice on prize competitions and free draws
Bates Wells & Braithwaite, Charity & Social Enterprise Law Update, Spring 2010
The Gambling Commission has published updated advice for organisers of prize competitions and free draws.
Factsheet update on induction for new employees
VolResource, 25 March 2010
Personnel professionals' body CIPD has recently updated its factsheet on induction for new employees, giving background, guidance and an induction checklist.
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