Over 900 organisations have already signed up to the joint Give it back, George campaign led by NCVO, the Philanthropy Review and CAF calling on the Chancellor to reverse his decision to include charitable donations in the Tax Relief cap announced in the Budget.

George Osbourne announced in his budget that he would limit the amount of tax relief on charitable donations to £50,000 or 25 per cent of income. This change is bad news for organisations large and small. Philanthropists play a big role in funding the sector, last year 7% of donors gave 45% of the money donated to charity. Many of these gifts are used to set up grant-making trusts and foundations.

Sally-Anne Greenfield of Leeds Community Foundation (LCF) said:
“We believe that this is a very misguided decision that was intended to reduce tax avoidance but has resulted in a situation that is potentially extremely damaging for all charities. If the cap is introduced as planned, we believe major donors will give less and this means that vital support for community initiatives will potentially be lost”

LCF is urging Leeds residents to write to their local MP, and George Osbourne expressing their concerns and to sign-up to the Give it back George campaign at http://giveitbackgeorge.org/back-the-campaign

The post holder will provide leadership, advice and direction to the process of transformation in Leeds and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of Transform  eeds in line with defined objectives.

You will need:

• Significant experience of managing and delivering large, complex programmes within the Third Sector.
• Experience of financial planning, monitoring and review.
• The ability to develop and coordinate communications and disseminate strategies with consortia, partnerships and organisations in the local area.

Application deadline: 30 April. The post is fixed term until 31 August 2013.

Full details and application pack available from the VAL website.

Leeds has been successful in its bid to the Transforming Local Infrastructure fund, bringing just under £400,000 of support and development to frontline Third Sector organisations in the city.

The successful bid, led by VAL, will provide support to Third Sector organisations in Leeds over an 18-month period. The project will enable support and development organisations to provide co-ordinated and radically improved access to quality, cost-effective support and information. It will also help to ensure that frontline organisations are able to deliver better quality services, that are flexible enough to meet changes in communities and public policy.

VAL would like to thank all the partners that contributed to the bid, including Equality Leeds, Leeds Ahead, Leeds Community Foundation, Leeds Older Peoples Forum, Third Sector Leeds, Volition and WYCAS.

The bid was made possible by the Office for Civil Society (OCS) making up to £30 million available in Summer 2011. The opportunity was open across the UK, to bid for short-term funding to provide better support for front line Third Sector organisations by transforming local infrastructure services. The intention of Transforming Local Infrastructure is to fund partnerships of local support and development organisations to rationalise and transform the services they provide. The Transforming Local Infrastructure Fund is being managed by Big Fund, the non-lottery funding operation of the Big Lottery Fund.

Further information about the project will be made available shortly; or for more information contact David Smith, VAL Chief Officer (Strategy and Engagement), on david.smith@val.org.uk

A list of all the successful applicants to the Transforming Local Infrastructure Fund is available from The Cabinet Office website.

Organised in partnership by Voluntary Action-Leeds, Third Sector Leeds, The European Year of Volunteering 2011 and Leeds City Council Library and Information Service and supported by Europe Direct Leeds.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Reverend Canon Alan Taylor will open the conference.

Speakers include:
Tom Riordan – Chief Executive of Leeds City Council
Antonia Mochan – Head of Networks at the European Commission Representation in London

Following on from last year’s successful volunteering launch event we also aim to celebrate the European Year of Volunteering. The conference will launch the Leeds Involvement Strategy and, following the merger with Leeds Voice, the new look for Voluntary Action-Leeds will be revealed.

There will be participative workshops on:

• Active Aging
• Young Lives
• The Environment
• Health

Lunch provided.

Booking Details

Book online at: gettinginvolved.eventbrite.com – booking is required.

For more information contact Richard Whitmill at Voluntary Action-Leeds: 0113 297 7920 or email richard.whitmill@val.org.uk

Following the Voluntary Action-Leeds AGM on 26 September the merger between VA-L and Leeds Voice was approved by VA-L members. Leeds Voice management committee met for the final time on 29 September to formally dissolve Leeds Voice.

The new organisation is called Voluntary Action-Leeds. Between now and December VA-L will be working on a joint website and newsletter. All will be revealed on 7 December at the Third Sector Conference.

The new trustee board will meet on 7 October when the new chair and vice chairs will be elected. The new trustee board is made up of the following people:

• Christopher Billington
• David Boutle
• Matt Campbell
• Adrian Curtis
• Kathryn Fitzsimons
• Chris Hollins
• Paul Landey
• Eddie Mack
• Joan Macleod
• Pat McGeever
• Sarah Murray
• Julia Preston
• Louanne Roberts
• Anthony Spice

Find out more about the Trustees on the VA-L website.

Find out more about the Trustees on the VA-L website.

1. Governance
2. Marketing and PR
3. Finance
4. Networks and Partnerships
5. Funding
6. Planning
7. Monitoring and Evaluation
8. Resources for Operation

The sections can be downloaded individually from the corresponding Support section of this website or you can download the complete Resource Pack below.

Free Resource: LIC Resource Pack (.pdf)

The Lord Mayor encourages everyone to give their support for VA-L as his nominated charity, to help the diverse range of voluntary and community groups across Leeds.

Find out how to donate

If you work for a charity, voluntary organisation or community group based in Leeds and are looking for help please visit the support section.

When: 16 November 2010, 9.30am – 12.30pm
Where: Wheeler Hall, Leeds, LS2 8BE

• Keynote speaker: Mike Chitty – Mike works on community development, management, leadership and enterprise across the UK, but with a real passion for making a difference in his home city of Leeds.
• Information stalls
• Buffet lunch
• Networking opportunities.

Come and find out about the exciting initiatives being supported by Leeds infrastructure support organisations, and help celebrate the achievements of projects and initiatives who are part of the third sector.

To book please download the booking form (.doc) and return to either VA-L or Leeds Voice.