Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

Two non-cyclists and 1000 miles….

Brothers Leighton and Gregory Williams are leaving john-o-groats bright and early on the 28th of July and reach lands end, by hook or by crook on the 7th of August, 10 days in total (plus the morning of the 7th to make up any slack) and 100 agonsing, painful miles a day in the saddle.  Most of the training (if you can call it training) has taken place around the highways and hills of neath and llanelli which should stand them in good stead (plus its all downhill from the top of the country anyway)

Its in aid of the pancreatic cancer research fund and donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/susansheppard. Research has shown that 40 years ago 3% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survived 5 years or more. Frighteningly, this figure is still 3%. Whilst tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of many other cancers, one of the factors limiting research into pancreatic cancer has been the perception amongst some of the research community that it was a disease too difficult to do much about. One of the charity’s aims is to change that perception and encourage more researchers to focus on pancreatic cancer.

The Charity Commission has been made aware of a scam involving people being telephoned by individuals claiming to represent the Charity Commission. In the phone calls these individuals claim to be from the “debt collection department” of the Commission and they demand payments for various services and advertisements.

Some of the bogus calls have demanded payments of thousands of pounds for various services and advertisements. The Commission has been contacted by a number of people who have received calls of this nature and has already reported this matter to the police.

It is important to be clear that:

• Any call from someone claiming to work with or on behalf of the Charity Commission, and claiming any payment in a threatening way, is clearly bogus;
• The Charity Commission does not charge for any of its services to charities; it does not get involved in debt collection either directly or through contracting third parties to do so, and nor does it collect debt on behalf of charities;
• You should immediately report these sorts of incidents to the police, and the Charity Commission would also like to be informed where its name is being used for suspected fraudulent purposes.

Andrew Hind, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission said;
“I am outraged that individuals are misusing the good name of the Charity Commission in this way. I would strongly urge anyone to contact the police if they receive one of these calls and to please notify us as well.”

Our advice to charities is:

• When you speak to any member of staff from the Commission they will always be prepared to give their name, telephone number and email address;
• Commission email addresses always end with the domain name @charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk;
• Check the number of any suspect caller against the direct dial telephone codes for our offices; these are London 0207 674…, Liverpool 0151 703…, Taunton 01823 345… , Newport 01633 2255…

The best way to contact us is by email or if you need to speak to someone urgently you can call our contact centre on 0845 300 0218. Lines are open from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, except national holidays.

The Charity Commission has been made aware of a scam involving people being telephoned by individuals claiming to represent the Charity Commission. In the phone calls these individuals claim to be from the “debt collection department” of the Commission and they demand payments for various services and advertisements.  It is important to be clear that:

• Any call from someone claiming to work with or on behalf of the Charity Commission, and claiming any payment in a threatening way, is clearly bogus;
• The Charity Commission does not charge for any of its services to charities; it does not get involved in debt collection either directly or through contracting third parties to do so, and nor does it collect debt on behalf of charities;
• You should immediately report these sorts of incidents to the police, and the Charity Commission would also like to be informed where its name is being used for suspected fraudulent purposes.

The best way to contact the Charity Commission is by email or if you need to speak to someone urgently you can call the contact centre on 0845 300 0218.

Charity, company and CIC law changes during April have been saved under publications via email – Legal update and are available online at  this website from 1 April for charitable trusts, 6 April for all others: Charities and community amateur sports clubs have only four years, not six, to recover gift aid. The period for claiming gift aid transitional relief remains two years. For more information about the gift aid please visit the Sandy Adirondack website.

Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales provides specialist therapy to children in Wales with cerebral palsy. The Bobath Recipe Swap will be held between 8th – 15th May 2010.  The information poster can be downloaded below. For more information and to register for your Recipe Swap Fundraising pack contact 02920 522600 orfundraising@bobathwales.org

Charities and fundraising suppliers across Wales are being urged to demonstrate their commitment to best practice in fundraising by signing up to self-regulation.  The self-regulatory scheme for fundraising is run by the independent Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB).  It requires members to make a public commitment to best practice in fundraising.  The FRSB has also opened an office to support charities in Wales, with the appointment of Simon Boex as Manager for Wales.  Boex’s role is to recruit more charities in Wales to the scheme, raise awareness of the high standards that member charities commit to and build public confidence in charitable giving.

To view the complete article please look under the Funding section of our website.

In the Pink Swansea Canal and River Walk is to be held on Sunday 21st June 2009 to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.  Registration can be completed in the Arts Centre Pontardawe, online at www.inthepinkbreastcancer.co.uk or on the day.  The registration fee is £3.85.  For full details contact: 01495 308883, or www.pinkwalks.co.uk

WCVA are holding two upcoming events:

Hallmarks seminar – ‘Hallmarks of a well run charity’

WCVA, in partnership with Watts Gregory LLP accountants and the Charity Commission, will be presenting a half day seminar: Hallmarks of a well run charity – regulatory and accounting essentials, to be held at Baltic House, Cardiff on 30 April. This innovative seminar will review both the governance and financial management issues identified by the Commission’s Hallmarks publication, essential for the sound running of any charity.

Further information can be found on the WCVA website or for a copy of the booking form please contact: WCVA Events on 029 2043 1724 or eventsadmin@wcva.org.uk

Charity Law Conference – ‘Wales Charity Law Conference 2009′

WCVA is pleased to give advance notice of the Wales Charity Law Conference 2009, presented in partnership with Geldards LLP.  This year’s conference will be held in Cardiff on 21st May 2009, and will offer the usual spread of high quality presentations and workshops on a variety of legal topics. It will also place some focus on the recessionary environment, looking at relevant legal issues and strategies to manage them.

The full programme and booking form can be downloaded from the WCVA website, and will be distributed via Network, by email and hardcopy mailing. For further information please contact: WCVA Events on 029 2043 1724 or eventsadmin@wcva.org.uk

The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is an entirely new legal form for charities.  The Office of the Third Sector and the Charity Commission have published draft details of what the new form might look like and the rules it will have to follow.  The CIO is designed specifically for charities and will be solely regulated by the Charity Commission, significantly reducing the regulatory burden.

The consultation closes on 10th December 2008, and can be viewed at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.