JVN Blog

This week’s blog contains important information from the National Council for Voluntary Organsiations‘ Chief Executive, Sir Stuart Etherington. Please take our time to read this and support the NCVO’s new campaign, Back Britain’s Charities. Together we can set the Third Sector on the road to recovery.

“On 13th November 2012, NCVO released the results of our annual joint report with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) – UK Giving 2012.

The findings are stark. They show a real terms 20% fall in donations to charities during the past year. Fewer people are giving and those who do are giving less. And this is against a backdrop of spending cuts and rising demand for members’ services. Whilst the picture for individual charities varies, this overall view of the sector is concerning.

Britain, however, remains a generous nation with donors supporting all manner of good causes, both at home and overseas. Preserving and making best use of that generosity is more important now than ever so that’s why, together with CAF, we have launched a new campaign:

Back Britain’s Charities

It has five key aims. We’re asking…

… The public to support charities through regular giving, regardless of how much time or money they can give.
… The Government to modernise and promote Gift Aid and payroll giving so donations go further.
… The Government to ensure that public bodies do not cut funding for charities disproportionately when making spending reductions.
… Business to support charities, either through donations or through practical means.
… Charities to work with the Government to modernise and improve fundraising and to enhance their impact so that every pound given goes further to helping beneficiaries.

So how can members help?

At the start of the ‘Give it Back George [Osborne]’ campaign, the immediate backing provided by thousands of members was key to its success.

Help Back Britain’s Charities send an equally powerful message:

Show your support by signing up on the campaign website.

You can also show your support on Twitter using #backingcharity.

And crucially, ask as many of your contacts as possible to add their backing on the Back Britain’s Charities website.”

Thank you for reading. Please sign up here today.

Opportunity of the Week:

The JCC for London (Jewish Community Centre) is looking for volunteers to take part in an important new project tackling isolation and loneliness amongst those over the age of 75. The 2001 census revealed that almost 1 in 5 elderly people go a whole week with no contact from their fellow man.

The JCC Friendship Club will meet one Sunday per month for 2 hours, bringing older guests together in a small group of people for tea, talk and companionship.
The role of the volunteers is two-fold: collect and return elderly attendees by car from and to their homes as well as attending the club to encourage socialising and assist other guests. Volunteers will collect the same older guest/s each month and take them to the JCC/host where they will all enjoy an afternoon tea party. There will usually be three to five volunteers in a group while we will also have one or two reserve drivers to cover for holidays and emergencies.
This project requires volunteers to give 4 hours of your time per month with a minimum of 6 months commitment.
For more information on how to get involved email David Yehuda on david.yehuda@jcclondon.org.uk or call 020 7431 9866.