WCVA Trustee news 21 May 2008 / 21 Mai 2008

WCVA autumn seminar series
WCVA is pleased to announce this year’s autumn seminar series, delivered in partnership with Watts Gregory LLP. These two essential half-day seminars are designed for trustees, finance managers, finance staff and advisors in the third sector, and will provide expert guidance, advice and practical tips on a wide array of financial management issues:

• Thursday 10 July 2008 – WCVA, Baltic House, Cardiff - Making the finance function more strategic
• Wednesday 24 September 2008 – WCVA, Baltic House, Cardiff - Charity accounts and tax update

The seminars cost £15 per person (£20 for non-WCVA members), begin at 9.30am and are followed by a buffet lunch at 1.30pm. Full details and a booking form are available on the WCVA website, or you can contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329, email help@wcva.org.uk.

WCVA Realising Rural Assets conference
Rural areas usually feel like the poor relation to urban areas – always losing out on funding, programmes and support because they don’t have the density of population, or easily identified deprivation. This conference for Rural Wales takes forward community ownership and management of local assets in the widest, most creative sense, to enable Can-Do Rural Communities.

The conference will include contributions from Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones AM, WCVA Chief Executive Graham Benfield OBE and Deputy Minister for Regeneration Leighton Andrews AM. There will also be sessions on the Scottish experience of community ownership, examples of the community-owned assets approach and a panel discussion on the next steps for Wales featuring a range of experts including Dr Kate Braithwaite MBE, Rural Programme Director of Carnegie Trust UK.

The conference will be held on Thursday 19 June 2008, Hafod Hendre Building, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells. The full programme and booking form is available on the WCVA website, or you can contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329, email help@wcva.org.uk.

Charity governing documents
The Charity Commission has removed its model governing documents for charitable companies from its website because parts of them were inconsistent with the Companies Act 2006. The Commission has indicated it will publish the revised version by the end of May, but organisations wishing to register in the meantime should contact it for advice.

Burma cyclone appeals
In order to maximise the donations made to the various Burma cyclone fundraising appeals around the country, the Charity Commission has collected relevant advice and guidance on one page on its website.

Workplace health
ACAS has produced new online guidance on spotting mental health problems at work, as well as launching their publication, Health, work and wellbeing, which explores the key factors that mediate work and health.

Display screens
HSE's FAQ’s on display screen equipment has been updated. It covers issues such as: How can I protect my eyes? and How do the regulations apply to work with laptops? etc.

Disability compliance
The RNID has produced a new guide to help charities communicate with hard of hearing people and meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act. The booklet, Sound Solutions, features information about the services and equipment required to meet disability laws.

Trustee codes
A significant number of charity boards have problems with trustees who bully, domineer or fail to turn up to meetings, according to trustee support organisation Charity Trustee Networks. The network is working on a set of model codes of trustee conduct in a bid to address the issue. The charity is launching a consultation project to help it develop the codes and is calling on trustees with experience of codes of conduct to get in touch. It hopes that the codes and instructions on how to use them will be available by November.

Community enterprise
Cheshire County Council has published a web based Community Enterprise Toolkit, bringing together existing advice and information on setting up community enterprises in a user-friendly way.

Charities Act 2006
Bates Wells & Braithwaite solicitors has produced a useful update on the implementation of the Charities Act 2006.

NOS for youth work developed
The National Occupational Standards for Youth Work are now available for download from the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services website.

Data security
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued two new good practice notes on data security:

• Security of personal information - aims to alert small and medium sized organisations to the security measures they should have in place to protect the personal information they hold. The Data Protection Act 1998 requires all organisations to have appropriate security to protect personal information against unlawful or unauthorised use or disclosure, and accidental loss, destruction or damage.
• Guidance on data security breach management - sets out some of the things an organisation needs to consider in the event of a security breach. Organisations which process personal data must take appropriate measures against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction of or damage to personal data.

Freedom of information
Hints for Practitioners handling FOI and EIR requests, has been produced by the ICO and a number of government departments, and provides practitioners with advice on best practice in responding to requests for information.

Charity pensions
In its report, The 2008 Charity Pension Maze, the Charity Finance Directors' Group warns pensions pose charities serious valuation, governance and organisational issues. The report highlights that the Accounting Standards Board and the Pensions Regulator have both suggested using much more conservative methods of pension valuation to accurately assess the risk and longevity of schemes. Combined with the turmoil in the financial markets, these changes could see scheme values drop dramatically. The report also warns that charities need to take a more active part in the governance of their pension schemes and that charities need to consider pension issues closely when organisations merge.

Social enterprise
Social Enterprise London (SEL) has launched Enterprising Healthcare: A Guide for Social Enterprises and PCT Commissioners, which looks at public sector healthcare procurement for social enterprises and primary care trust commissioners. The SEL website also contains a mass of other practical guidance for social enterprises on a wide variety of topics.

Collaborative working
NCVO’s Collaborative working Unit has published very useful guidance on, Consortia delivery of public services. This guidance looks at different legal structures for delivering public services via a consortium, and is highly relevant as procurers look to reduce the number of small contracts and realise economies of scale.

Asset development
Five fact sheets on asset development have been published by High Peak CVS: Developing and Maximising the Use of a Community Building, The Pros and Cons of Leasing and Ownership, Risk Reduction in Managing a Community Building, Making the Figures Add Up, Selling the Case for an Asset Transfer.

Training
The CIPD has published a web based fact sheet on action learning. This is an effective method of collaborative learning where a small group of learners meet regularly to reflect on real work issues. Its basic philosophy is that the most effective learning takes place when people are faced with a real problem which they are obliged to solve.

Charitable giving
HMRC has published an updated Help Sheet, Giving land, buildings, shares and securities to charity.

Workplace health
ACAS has issued new advice to employers on Mental health in the workplace, and a new booklet on Health, work and wellbeing, which includes sample checklists and policies.

Statutory grievance procedure
In Clyde Valley Housing Association v McAulay, the Scottish EAT has made is clear that where the modified statutory grievance procedure is used to allege reasons for dismissal, the employee must not only set out the basic grievance, but must provide sufficient detail so that the allegations can be properly investigated by the employer.

Redundancy
In Commission for Healthcare Audit & Inspection v Ward, the EAT considered the overlap between the suitability of alternative employment, and the (un)reasonableness of a refusal of that suitable job. They held that a tribunal is entitled to have regard to the degree of suitability when deciding whether the employee's refusal is reasonable. In other words, where the new job offer is overwhelmingly suitable it may be a little easier for the employer to show that a refusal by the employee is unreasonable than if the suitability was a more borderline decision.

Newyddion Ymddiriedolwyr

Cyfres seminarau’r hydref WCVA
Mae’n bleser gan WCVA cyhoeddi manylion am gyfres seminarau’r hydref eleni, sy’n cael eu cyflwyno mewn partneriaeth â Watts Gregory LLP. Mae’r ddwy seminar hanner diwrnod pwysig hyn wedi’u cynllunio ar gyfer ymddiriedolwyr, rheolwyr cyllid, staff cyllid a chynghorwyr yn y trydydd sector, a byddant yn cynnig arweiniad, cyngor ac awgrymiadau defnyddiol gan arbenigwyr ar bob math o bynciau sy’n gysylltiedig â rheolaeth ariannol.

• Dydd Iau 10 Gorffennaf 2008 – WCVA, Tŷ Baltig, Caerdydd – Gwneud y swyddogaeth ariannol yn fwy strategol
• Dydd Mercher 4 Medi 2008 – WCVA, Tŷ Baltig, Caerdydd – Cyfrifon elusennau a diweddariad ar drethiant

Mae’r seminarau’n costio £15 y pen (£20 i rai nad ydynt yn aelodau o WCVA), byddant yn cychwyn am 9.30am ac fe’u dilynir gan ginio bwffe am 1.30pm. Mae manylion llawn a ffurflen archebu ar gael ar wefan WCVA, neu gallwch gysylltu â Desg Gymorth WCVA ar 0800 2888 329, e-bost help@wcva.org.uk.

Cynhadledd Gwireddu Asedau Gwledig WCVA
Mae ardaloedd gwledig yn aml yn teimlo fel perthynas dlawd eu cefndryd trefol - ar eu colled bob tro pan ddaw’n fater o gyllid, rhaglenni a chefnogaeth oherwydd bod eu poblogaeth yn rhy denau, neu am nad yw eu hamddifadedd mor amlwg. Mae’r gynhadledd hon ar gyfer Cymru Wledig yn mynd â pherchnogaeth gymunedol rhagddi ynghyd â rheoli asedau lleol yn y ffordd ehangaf a fwyaf creadigol bosibl, er mwyn galluogi Cymunedau Gwledig y Medra.

Bydd y gynhadledd yn cynnwys cyfraniadau gan y Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig, Elin Jones AC, Prif Weithredwr WCVA Graham Benfield OBE, a'r Dirprwy Weinidog dros Adfywio, Leighton Andrews AC. Bydd sesiynau hefyd yn rhoi sylw i berchnogaeth gymunedol yn yr Alban, enghreifftiau o asedau sy'n eiddo i'r gymuned, a thrafodaeth banel ar y camau nesaf i Gymru yng nghwmni amrywiaeth o arbenigwyr megis Dr Kate Braithwaite MBE, Cyfarwyddwraig Rhaglenni Gwledig Ymddiriedolaeth Carnegie UK.

Cynhelir y gynhadledd ddydd Iau 19 Mehefin 2008, yn Adeilad Hafod Hendre, ar Faes y Sioe Genedlaethol yn Llanelwedd. Mae’r rhaglen lawn a ffurflen archebu ar gael ar wefan WCVA, neu gallwch gysylltu â Desg Gymorth WCVA ar 0800 2888 329, e-bost help@wcva.org.uk.

Dogfennau llywodraethu elusennau
Mae’r Comisiwn Elusennau wedi dileu ei ddogfennau llywodraethu enghreifftiol ar gyfer cwmnïau elusennol ar ei wefan oherwydd bod rhannau ohonynt yn anghydnaws â Deddf Cwmnïau 2006. Mae’r Comisiwn wedi awgrymu y bydd yn cyhoeddi fersiwn ddiwygiedig erbyn diwedd Mai, ond dylai mudiadau sy’n dymuno cofrestru yn y cyfamser gysylltu â’r Comisiwn am gyngor.

Apêl seiclon Burma
Er mwyn gwneud y gorau o’r gwahanol apeliadau sydd wedi’u hagor ledled y wlad i godi arian i drigolion Burma yn dilyn y seiclon, mae’r Comisiwn Elusennau wedi crynhoi cyngor a chanllawiau perthnasol ar un dudalen o’i wefan.

Iechyd yn y gweithle
Mae ACAS wedi cyhoeddi canllaw ar-lein newydd ar gyfer adnabod problemau iechyd meddwl yn y gweithle, yn ogystal â lansio ei gyhoeddiad, Health, work and wellbeing, sy’n edrych ar y prif ffactorau sy’n ymwneud â gwaith ac iechyd.

Sgriniau cyfrifiadur
Mae erthygl yr Awdurdod Gweithredol Iechyd a Diogelwch sy’n ateb Cwestiynau Cyffredin ar sgriniau cyfrifiadur wedi cael ei diweddaru. Mae’n cynnwys pynciau megis: Sut allaf amddiffyn fy llygaid? a Sut mae’r rheoliadau’n ymdrin â gwaith gyda gliniaduron? ayb.

Cydymffurfio â gofynion anabledd
Mae’r RNID wedi cynhyrchu canllaw newydd i gynorthwyo elusennau gyfathrebu gyda phobl drwm eu clyw ac i gwrdd â’u gofynion o dan y Ddeddf Gwahaniaethu ar Sail Anabledd. Mae’r llyfryn, Sound Solutions, yn cynnwys gwybodaeth am y gwasanaethau a’r offer sydd eu hangen i gwrdd â gofynion y deddfau anabledd.

Codau i ymddiriedolwyr
Mae nifer sylweddol o fyrddau elusennau’n wynebu problemau gydag ymddiriedolwyr sy’n bwlio, sy’n ceisio dylanwadu trwy roi pwysau ar eraill, neu sy’n absennol o gyfarfodydd, yn ôl Rhwydweithiau Ymddiriedolwyr Elusennau, mudiad sy’n cefnogi ymddiriedolwyr. Mae’r rhwydwaith yn gweithio ar godau ymddygiad enghreifftiol ar gyfer ymddiriedolwyr mewn ymdrech i fynd i’r afael â’r broblem. Mae’r elusen yn lansio prosiect ymgynghori i helpu i ddatblygu’r codau ac mae’n galw ar ymddiriedolwyr gyda phrofiad o godau ymddygiad i gysylltu â hwy. Mae’n gobeithio y bydd y codau a chyfarwyddiadau ar eu defnyddio’n barod erbyn mis Tachwedd.

Menter gymunedol
Mae Cyngor Sir Gaer wedi cyhoeddi Pecyn Cymorth Menter Gymunedol ar y we, sy’n dwyn ynghyd gwybodaeth a chyngor sy’n bodoli eisoes ar sefydlu mentrau cymunedol mewn ffordd syml.

Deddf Elusennau 2006
Mae’r cyfreithwyr Bates Wells & Braithwaite wedi cynhyrchu diweddariad defnyddiol ar weithredu Deddf Elusennau 2006.

Safonau Galwedigaethau Cenedlaethol wedi’u datblygu ar gyfer gwaith ieuenctid
Mae’r Safonau Galwedigaethol Cenedlaethol ar gyfer gwaith ieuenctid ar gael yn awr i’w lawrlwytho ar wefan Cyngor Cenedlaethol Gwasanaethau Ieuenctid Gwirfoddol.

Diogelu Data
Mae Swyddfa’r Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth wedi cyhoeddi dwy ddogfen arferion gorau newydd ar ddiogelu data:

• Diogelu data personol – nod hwn yw hysbysu mudiadau bach a chanolig o’r mesurau diogelwch y dylent fod yn eu cymryd i ddiogelu’r wybodaeth bersonol a gedwir ganddynt. Mae Deddf Diogelu Data 1998 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol bod gan bob mudiad gamau diogelu priodol ar waith i ddiogelu gwybodaeth bersonol rhag defnydd anghyfreithlon neu heb ei awdurdod neu ddatgeliad, a cholled ddamweiniol, dinistr neu ddifrod.
• Canllaw ar reoli torri mesurau diogelu data – mae hwn yn amlinellu rhai o’r pethau y mae angen i fudiadau eu hystyried os yw diogelwch data’n cael ei fygwth. Rhaid i fudiadau sy’n prosesu data personol gymryd camau priodol yn erbyn prosesu heb awdurdod neu anghyfreithlon ac yn erbyn colled ddamweiniol, dinistr neu ddifrod i ddata personol.

Rhyddid gwybodaeth
Mae Awgrymiadau i Ymarferwyr sy’n delio â cheisiadau Rhyddid Gwybodaeth a Cheisiadau am Wybodaeth Amgylcheddol, wedi eu cynhyrchu gan Swyddfa’r Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth a nifer o adrannau’r llywodraeth, ac mae’n cynnig cyngor i ymarferwyr ar arferion gorau wrth ddelio â cheisiadau am wybodaeth.

Pensiynau elusennau
Yn ei adroddiad, The 2008 Charity Pension Maze, mae’r Grŵp Cyfarwyddwyr Cyllid Elusennau yn rhybuddio bod pensiynau’n achosi problemau prisio, llywodraethu a sefydliadol difrifol i elusennau. Dywed yr adroddiad bod y Bwrdd Safonau Cyfrifo a’r Rheoleiddiwr Pensiynau wedi awgrymu defnyddio dulliau llawer mwy ceidwadol wrth brisio pensiynau er mwyn asesu risg a hirhoedledd cynlluniau’n fwy cywir. Ynghyd â helbulon y marchnadoedd arian, gallai’r newidiadau hyn weld gwerth cynlluniau’n gostwng yn sylweddol iawn. Rhybuddia’r adroddiad hefyd bod angen i elusennau gymryd rhan fwy gweithredol o ran llywodraethu eu cynlluniau pensiwn a bod angen i elusennau ystyried materion pensiwn yn fwy gofalus pan fydd sefydliadau’n uno.

Menter gymdeithasol
Mae Social Enterprise London (SEL) wedi lansio Enterprising Healthcare: A Guide for Social Enterprises and PCT Commissioners, sy’n edrych ar gaffael gofal iechyd y sector cyhoeddus ar gyfer mentrau cymdeithasol a chomisiynwyr ymddiriedolaethau gofal sylfaenol. Mae gwefan SEL hefyd yn cynnwys toreth o wybodaeth ymarferol i fentrau cymdeithasol ar amrywiaeth eang o bynciau.

Cydweithredu
Mae Uned Cydweithredu NCVO wedi cyhoeddi canllaw defnyddiol iawn ar Gonsortia sy’n darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae’r canllaw hwn yn edrych ar y gwahanol strwythurau cyfreithiol ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau trwy gonsortiwm, ac mae’n berthnasol iawn gan fod rhai sy’n caffael yn ymdrechu i leihau nifer y contractau bach ac i gyflawni darbodion maint.

Datblygu asedau
Mae pum taflen wybodaeth ar ddatblygu asedau wedi’u cyhoeddi gan Wasanaeth Gwirfoddol Sirol High Peak: Developing and Maximising the Use of a Community Building, The Pros and Cons of Leasing and Ownership, Risk Reduction in Managing a Community Building, Making the Figures Add Up, Selling the Case for an Asset Transfer.

Hyfforddiant
Mae’r Sefydliad Siartredig Personél a Datblygiad (CIPD) wedi cyhoeddi taflen wybodaeth ar y we ar ddysgu gweithredol. Mae hwn yn ddull effeithiol o ddysgu ar y cyd lle mae grŵp bychan o ddysgwyr yn cwrdd yn rheolaidd i ystyried materion gwaith go iawn. Ei athroniaeth sylfaenol yw bod y dysgu mwyaf effeithiol yn digwydd pan fydd pobl yn wynebu problem go iawn y mae disgwyl iddynt ei datrys.

Rhoi elusennol
Mae Cyllid a Thollau Ei Mawrhydi wedi cyhoeddi Taflen Gyngor wedi’i diweddaru, Giving land, buildings, shares and securities to charity.

Iechyd yn y gweithle
Mae ACAS wedi cyhoeddi cyngor newydd i gyflogwyr ar Iechyd meddwl yn y gweithle, a llyfryn newydd ar Iechyd, gwaith a lles, sy’n cynnwys rhestrau gwirio a pholisïau enghreifftiol.

Trefn gwyno statudol
Yn Clyde Valley Housing Association v McAulay, mae EAT yr Alban wedi’i gwneud yn amlwg os defnyddir y drefn gwyno statudol ddiwygiedig i honni rhesymau dros ddiswyddo, rhaid i’r cyflogai nid yn unig amlinellu’r gwŷn sylfaenol, ond rhaid iddo hefyd roi digon o fanylion fel bod modd i’r cyflogwr ymchwilio’n drwyadl i’r honiadau.

Diswyddo
Yn Y Comisiwn Archwilio ac Arolygu Gofal Iechyd v Ward, bu’r EAT yn ystyried y gorgyffwrdd rhwng addasrwydd swydd arall, a rhesymoldeb neu afresymoldeb gwrthod y swydd addas honno. Cadarnhawyd fod hawl gan dribiwnlys i ystyried i ba raddau y mae swydd yn addas wrth benderfynu a yw penderfyniad y cyflogai i’w gwrthod yn rhesymol. Mewn geiriau eraill, os yw’r swydd newydd a gynigir yn gwbl addas gall fod ychydig yn haws i’r cyflogwr ddangos bod penderfyniad y cyflogai i’w gwrthod yn afresymol na phe bai ei haddasrwydd yn benderfyniad mwy ffiniol.