Some of the leading players in the European third sector met last week in Paris to launch a new European network.

The European network of third sector leaders (Euclid) was formed by over 100 third sector leaders from 19 European countries in an attempt to promote integration, innovation and effectiveness, reports the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations. (more…)

In a Charity Commission conference supported by the BBC, third sector bosses were today urged to exploit media innovations in order to reach a wider target audience.

Social networking sites, blogs, broadband TV and other global advances that broaden the scope of the internet should be employed by modern charities to encourage greater involvement in good causes, guests at the event were told. (more…)

Representatives from the voluntary sector have applauded the government’s decision to protect Lottery resources earmarked for charities as it seeks to fund the Olympics.

Tessa Jowell said yesterday in Parliament that after 2009 a transfer of £425 million will come from the third of Big Lottery Fund resources which would have gone to statutory agencies. (more…)

Third sector minister Ed Miliband has announced a £2 million plan to realise the full potential of Britain’s voluntary organisations.

The initiative, funded by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), will centre on the training of 2,000 local commissioners as part of a wider programme to offer improved public services. (more…)

Communities and Local Government has announced a 20 per cent fall in the number of new cases of homelessness from October to December, compared to the corresponding period of 2005.

In the last three months of 2006, 17,310 households were rendered homeless. This compares to three years ago, when 35,770 new cases of homelessness were recorded nationally in the fourth quarter. (more…)