Monday 13 June 2011

A brief message from our new Chief Officer......

I am delighted and privileged to have taken over recently from Jill Jones and thank you to all those who have sent their good wishes on my appointment. I am looking forward to continuing and developing further the services and support we provide especially in the current difficult operating environment. There will be a bit more detail by way of an introduction in our up-coming Summer newsletter.

In the meantime you can reach me here if you would like to contact me about any aspect of what we do or how we do it or if you have any suggestions for how we might improve. It would be great to hear from you!

Thanks and best wishes.

Chris Tatham

Back to top

News update

Protecting charities from harm toolkit
The final chapter of the Charity Commission’s on-line toolkit to help trustees manage risks and protect their charity from harm and abuse is now available. Entitled ‘Holding, moving and receiving funds safely in the UK and internationally’ it explains charities’ use of formal banking systems as a prudent and responsible way to ensure that charity funds are safeguarded. Other previously published toolkit chapters address issues including fraud and financial crime.

NCVO Sustainability tool
NCVO has developed a tool to help organisations assess and review progress in working towards financial sustainability. It covers key areas including income diversity, strategic funding and financial management. If you would like help in using the tool please get in touch.
 

Back to top

Recent website changes

In case you missed them:

• May – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – all you ever wanted to know about finance!
• May – About us – a clearer explanation of our mission and values and governance arrangements – you can also check our accounts!
• April - HMRC Approved mileage expense rate increased (news)
• April - Gift Aid Rate Change – transitional relief ended (news)

Back to top

We need your help!

Are you interested in the future success of WYCAS; do you want to help shape its future direction?

To help make sure we remain focused on the needs of our service users we aim to have five trustees - one from each of the five metropolitan areas in West Yorkshire - which are appointed from the groups, associations and charities we serve. At the moment, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees areas are not represented by a trustee who is also a service user.

If you are from one of these areas and might be interested in becoming a trustee we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us for further information.

Back to top

Keeping up with the times!

WYCAS is now on twitter and facebook . Using social media will enable us to pass on relevant news, information and guidance more quickly and also give you another way to contact us with any queries, comments or feedback. Please also let us know of your important events or news!

Back to top

E-bulletin

We are looking at how we communicate and moving forward will send out our e-bulletin on a monthly basis. It is also available from our web site. We welcome any feedback on the content and format of the e-bulletin so that we can improve it and make sure it meets your needs. Please get in touch if you have any comments or suggestions.

Back to top

Events

21 June 2011 - Voluntary Action Wakefield District Funding Fair
We will be attending this event which is being held in Hall Green Community Centre, between 10am and 1pm. Entry is free and it finishes with a light lunch. Come and have a chat to our new Chief Officer!

20 July 2011 - Village hall to Whitehall: local government and the voluntary and community sector
A conference at the Northern Ballet in Leeds organized by Involve Yorkshire & Humber, which will examine the changing relationship between the voluntary and community sector and local government and explore the government’s key aim of devolving power to local communities. Speakers include:

• Rachel Reeves MP (Leeds West);
• John Mothersole (CEO of Sheffield City Council and Chair of the Y&H Local Authorities Chief Executive's Group);
• Andrea Hobbs (CEO of Ryedale VA);
• Jess Steel (Programme Manager for the Community Organisers Programme) ;and
• Karl Wilding (Head of Policy, Research and Foresight at NCVO).

Back to top