Everything you wanted to know about Section 106 (Planning Obligations)- The Guildhall, Bath - 24th November 6:00pm-8:15pm
The Ethical Property Foundation and South West Planning Aid invite all community groups, community development workers, neighbourhood planning groups and charities in Bath and North East Sommerset to attend an informative seminar on Section 106 (Planning Obligations). The seminar will help individuals and groups understand the leverage that community groups have over S106 negotiations, what it is that shapes Section 106 opportunities and help organisations feel confident in applying learning to real life scenarios.

The event is taking place on 24th November 6:00pm at The Guildhall in Bath. For details of how to book your place please contact Anna Hirschfeld at annahirschfeld@ethicalproperty.org.uk.

'Through the Maze: a guide to buying buildings for charities and social enterprises'
The Ethical Property Foundation has partnered with social banking specialists Triodos Bank, charity lawyers Bates Wells & Braithwaite and commercial property agents Ashwell Rogers to produce a new resource to help charities and social enterprises navigate the complex process of buying property. It is hoped that the online resource will de-mystify the buying process and help organisations save time and money. The resource can be accessed by going to the Property Advice section of the website and clicking on the 'Buying' tab.

City Bridge Trust launch fund to 'Green the Third Sector'
Following a pilot programme of eco-audits of a sample of London's third sector organisations, the City Bridge Trust has lauched an initiative to help more organisations across London improve their environmental performance. The Trust will fund the costs of an eco-audit, training or consultancy provided by approved consultants to help organisations make practical changes in behaviour to minimise environmental damage. Perference will be given to larger organisations or those with an extended sphere of influence among members or partner bodies so that the learning can be shared as widely as possible. To apply to the Greening the Third Sector initiative contact the Trust on 020 7332 3710 and speak to a grants officer.

New resource for charities becoming landlords
In response to a rise in queries from charities considering becoming landlords, the Ethical Property Foundation has expanded its on-line information resources to include a ‘how to’ guide to becoming a charity landlord. The resource aims to ensure charities can maximise the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of letting out space to other organisations. See the Foundation's press release for further information and click here to access the resource.

Foundation welcomes new Regional Manager to Bristol
The Ethical Property Foundation is pleased to welcome Patsy Newton to join our Bristol office as Regional Manager.  Patsy has followed a dedicated career path within the charity and public sector and has over 10 years experience in social housing, including six years as Chief Executive at United Housing Association. Most recently Patsy has undertaken various Non-Executive Director positions within the NHS; Chair of Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust and Non- Executive Director of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. In her role as Regional Manager, Patsy will be managing the Property Advice Service in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

If you are charity or community group based in Bristol or the surrounding areas with a property query please contact Patsy on 0117 916 6455 or email patsynewton@ethicalproperty.org.uk

Changes to Empty Rates Relief - potential implications for charities
The Government is reforming the way business rates are charged for empty buildings. Please see the Foundation's press release for details of implications this may have for charities.

Energy Performance Certificates for commercial buildings to be phased in from 6th April
Go to the Department for Communities and Local Government website for more information or contact Victoria Howse on 020 7065 0762 / victoriahowse@ethicalproperty.org.uk

Excellent feedback received from launch of new seminar: Greening your Workplace
Delegates from a range of charities and community groups in central London revived their enthusiasm and pledged their dedication to greening their workplace following the Foundation’s seminar on 4th December. ‘An Introduction to Greening your Workplace’ provided participants with a morning of presentations and interactive group work on issues around improving their organisation’s environmental impact. Discussions around barriers and drivers to a more environmentally sustainable workplace and opportunities to share tips and good practice all contributed to the success of the seminar. The Foundation is hoping to repeat this seminar and is offering the session as an in - house training opportunity. To find out more about bringing this, and other Foundation training packages, to your organisation please contact Victoria Howse on 020 7065 0762 / victoriahowse@ethicalproperty.org.uk.  

Seminar Success in the South West - Understanding Developers and S106
The Foundation’s seminar on Understanding Developers and S106 reached full capacity as 30 attendees representing a range of community groups in the South West came together to improve their understanding of their rights in the planning process. The seminar, delivered in partnership with South West Planning Aid, included presentations from planning experts and interactive workshops exploring real examples of S106 agreements. Attendees engaged in discussion around their own experiences of S106 in local developments and shared their knowledge with each other.

Foundation partners with Bristol based groups to deliver successful day on asset transfer
On the 11th July the Ethical Property Foundation, Social Enterprise Works and Bristol Development Trust Network held an event at Ciromedia in Bristol on the hot topic of ‘asset transfer’ and the implications for the city of the recently published ‘Quirk Review’ of community asset management and ownership.

The event, a mixture of presentations, discussions and networking was attended by over 70 delegates and brought together Bristol based voluntary and community sector groups to interact with some of the key players involved in the Quirk Review including co-author of the Review Andrew Robinson, Charles Woodd of the Department of Communities of Local Government as well as key representatives of Bristol City Council.

A number of local success stories shared their positive experiences of asset transfer from the local authority to the communtiy and Bristol City Council representatives addressed questions from delegates on issues highlighted by the Review.

Making assets work: The Quirk Review can be downloaded from the Department of Communities and Local Government website at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510515

Ethical Property Foundation ‘Highly Commended’ at 2007 Charity Awards
The Ethical Property Foundation has been Highly Commended in the research, advice and support category of The Charity Awards 2007. The prestigious annual awards ceremony held last week was sponsored by the Charities Aid Foundation and The Times’ Public Agenda section. Now in their eighth year, the awards recognise excellence in the management of charities, acknowledging the outstanding work and achievements of all charities, big or small, from across the UK and the tireless commitment of the people behind them.

David Phelan, organiser of The Charity Awards 2007, commented: “the Charity Awards are a great illustration of how much fantastic work takes place within the sector... The Ethical Property Foundation has already demonstrated that they are among the best-managed charities in the UK”.

Foundation launches new resource for Scottish charities
The Foundation has partnered with Scottish law firm Lindsays (www.lindsays.co.uk) to expand its successful Property Advice Service website to include Scottish property laws and practices.   The website’s advice pages have been amended to include additional information applicable specifically to charities occupying premises in Scotland, making it a useful resource for even more organisations across the UK.  
The Foundation is grateful to the staff at Lindsays for the time and resources they have given freely to reviewing and amending the website text to reflect the Scottish system.

Foundation wins funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for Bristol Property Advice Service
The Foundation has been awarded £120,000 over three years by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to extend its successful Property Advice Service to the Bristol area.  Local charitable organisations will be able to benefit from the Foundation’s comprehensive website, one to one property advice, affordable consultancy and access to discounted professional support.

The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation’s investment recognises the early success of the Property Advice Service in London and will support the first phase of extending the Service nationally.

Director, Jo Taylor said “I am delighted to have secured the support of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and to be bringing the time and money saving benefits of the Property Advice Service to the charitable sector in Bristol.”

BeTheChange! website launched
There are certain problems within our society today that can only be solved if society itself is radically altered.  Social change organisations are dedicated to tackling the root causes of these problems, whether through a change in the law, in the political or economic system, or in societal behaviour or attitude.

Ethical Property’s new BeTheChange! website - a space to debate, profile and support work for social change - was launched on 11 October at the Social Change Exchange in Birmingham.

The website includes a directory of UK social change organisations, facts and figures on the social change movement, information on careers in the sector and links to social change resources.  The development of the site has been supported by the Network for Social Change.

Property Professionals invited to join Foundation’s Register
The Foundation’s Register of Property Professionals includes over 20 solicitors, surveyors, relocation consultants, access auditors and space planners who provide free or discounted advice to charities.

If you are property professional interested in joining the Register please click here or contact Jo Taylor on 020 7065 0760 or jotaylor@ethicalproperty.org.uk.

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