From Community Newswire today (12th Jan):

Britain’s so-called “compensation culture” has left the Scout Association without enough volunteers to run the Scout troops because of fears they might be sued in the event of an accident, charity chiefs have claimed.

Derek Twine, the chief executive of the Scout Association, has told MPs that around 30,000 youngsters are having to wait to join the movement because the threat of litigation is driving away potential Scout leaders.

Speaking to the Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee, which is investigating the impact of litigation on society, Mr Twine said a major concern for Scout leaders was that accidents involving volunteers were seen by some parents as a chance to make money.

More at Community Newswire.

A Glasgow boating charity which provides training and cheap holidays for underprivileged youngsters has been forced to close. Accountancy firm PKF has been called in, who hope that purchasers can be found who will be able to set up a similar enterprise.

Galsgow’s - Evening Times: Nolly Barge closes after funding crisis.

Interpal, a registered charity based in London which has aims around aiding Palestinians, is under attack again.

It has been cleared by two investigations by the Charity Commission on whether it provided money to terrorist organisations, and the Board of Deputies of British Jews has recently withdrawn website claims linking Interpal to terrorism, under threat of libel action. But it a designation preventing US citizens having anything to do with it still stands, and now its banker, NatWest is being sued in the States in that it “knowingly collected, provided, and transmitted money and financial services to Hamas” and cites several atrocities which the group has claimed responsibility for.

No doubt more controversy is being stirred by George Galloway nominating Interpal for his Big Brother money.

See various newspaper reports etc for more e.g. Telegraph: Telegraph | Money | Terror victims target NatWest over Galloway’s chosen charity.

VolResource is experimenting with a wiki to develop information resources for the sector - for later transfer to the main site probably, or around an event. An example of the latter just set up is one on Databases for the voluntary sector. This is intended to contribute to a conference being held on 21st February (see main VR site events listings for details).

Also new is Web in Practice, transferred from main site and extended to cover podcasts, blogs and news feeds (RSS). This aims to rpovide good or interesting examples of charity/voluntary sector sites which in some way or another are promoting action by site visitors - whether its buying charity gifts, signing a petition or learning first aid!

General wiki link. Let us know what you think, suggestions for wiki pages etc.

About time we picked up a posting from other blogs we keep an eye on. At Kevin Harris’ neighbourhood blog:

Reporting on discussions at a recent seminar on neighbourhood governance organised by The Young Foundation with CDF and Bassac, he looks at a key question of “Do we need unity of voice – consensus – for neighbourhood governance?” Plus more - see quote below.

Neighbourhoods: Community, consensus, and neighbourhood governance

How far the ODPM and the Home Office can push their expectations of voluntary activity?. Rose Ardron, from Sheffield NDC, said:

“I do two days a week on this and I get tired. My colleagues who are also volunteers, get tired. People aren’t breaking down the doors to get involved in local forums.”

A colleague was telling me recently about a local activist who does 76 hours of volunteering per week: he’s seriously ill. Of another it was noted recently, that to be an activist in your own street is exhausting. I just don’t get the impression that this factor has featured much in what has been thus far an overwhelmingly top-down debate.

The Guardian’s annual review of corporate social responsibility takes a look at non-financial tie-ups between voluntary organisations and business, around campaigns.

Quote from article:
Amnesty International, for example, has worked with companies operating in zones of conflict to train business executives in human rights issues. Greenpeace, too, has for many years been working with industry, including recently with nPower to develop and promote a jointly branded renewable energy product in the UK.

More:
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Campaigners get into the business of business