HMRC has asked for feedback on a new consultation document regarding the definition of Community Amateur Sports Clubs.

The Charity Technology Exchange lets charities get technology at a discounted rate.

One of the biggest trade retailers in the UK, Screwfix, has set up a charity that will provide grants for charities to fix, maintain and improve their properties.

The National Minimum Wage rate will increase from 01 October 2013.

The Campaign for Voluntary Sector Archives launches a new publication of draft guidance for voluntary organisations. Primarily aimed at smaller organisations, this guidance is designed to help manage, store and use archival material.

Crimestoppers launch new Charity Fraud Line reporting service for staff members.

A new fundraising platform has launched promising no costs to either charities or supporters.

New link to Scottish Environment Protection Agency website added to the links library on the Community Toolkit.

HMRC launches Charities Online and Charities For Agents online services from the 22 April 2013.

We have added a new Simple Steps Guide to the Community Toolkit exploring the topic of Membership.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) have launched free downloadable templates and information for Human Resources (HR) management.

HMRC have now extended the deadline to 05 October 2013 for Pay as You Earn (PAYE) Real Time Information (RTI) for businesses employing 50 staff or less.

HMRC launches new Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme for registered charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs.

If you are a Trustee of a charitable company within a group of connected companies, OSCR is advising careful consideration of your duties as Trustee and suggesting that you seek professional advice before claiming eligiblity for audit exemption.  

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has anounced that it will be making changes to their charity compliance monitoring processes. This will affect how your charity interacts with the Regulator and retention of your charitable status.

Information about Community Right to Buy on the Community Toolkit has recently been reviewed and updated with the kind assistance of the Community Assets Branch of the Scottish Government.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has published an information guide for community organisations considering the management of funds generated from renewable energy projects.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Acas have come together to produce a joint publication 'Mediation - An Approach to Resolving Workplace Issues' for organisations considering the use of mediation in people management. 

We have recently added a link to the website of the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) which will appear on the Human Rights page on the Community Toolkit.

The Grundtvig Senior Volunteering programme supports the exchange of volunteers aged 50 years and over, between European organisations.

Claiming gift aid repayments will be quicker and easier for charities and sports clubs from 22 April when HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launches their new Charities Online service.

The Robertson Trust is relocating. From 18 March their new address will be Robertson House, 152 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4TB.

Do you employ staff?  From 06 April 2013, most employers will be required to send Pay as You Earn (PAYE) information to HMRC in real time. Are you ready?

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced this years changes to Statutory Pay rates which will see increases to Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay, Maternity Allowance and Statutory Sick Pay coming into effect in April (subject to Parliamentary approval).

Is your charity making the most of online promotion and fundraising? Google have teamed up with the Media Trust and the Charity Technology Trust to launch 'Grow Your Charity Online' - a resource aimed at helping small charities maximise their online potential.

The Community Toolkit team have reviewed and made improvements to the information on annual accounts and statutory filing in the section relating to Financial management on the Community Toolkit.

The Community Toolkit team have completed a review of all news articles previously published on the resource.

Volunteer Development Scotland has published the results of its Scottish Charities Survey 2012 revealing significant intelligence on volunteers and charities in Scotland.

A new £1 million Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund has been created by The Scottish Government to help communities clean and restore war memorials across Scotland.  

This year, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland surgery schedule includes the opportunity to attend a session by Skype.

Expressions of interest are now being invited to the Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund ahead of the next Grant Panel scheduled for June.

OSCR (Office of The Scottish Charity Regulator) has published its review for 2012, demonstrating how its work reinforces public confidence in Scottish charities and their work.

Scottish MSPs have joined forces with Focus Scotland to make promoting community based volunteering their New Year Resolution.

ACAS have recently published guidance for employers to help them draw up a policy that covers the use of personal devices (such as smart phones and tablets) by employees at work. Such policies are often termed 'bring your own device' policies or BYOD.

The Scottish Government has released new guidance for Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) to help them in the development of new Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) which will need to be drafted by 01 April 2013.

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland have published an Initial Report on the findings from stakeholder consultation into the Third Sector priorities for delivery of the Change Fund : Enhancing the Role of the Third Sector Sector Programme.

The Charity Tax Group have released a second edition of their popular 'Charity Tax Map' which includes a detailed and comprehensive review of the taxes, exemptions and reliefs applicable to charities in the UK.

HM Revenue and Customs has developed some simple guides to help charities complete some of the most common tax relief forms.

Next year has been designated Year of Natural Scotland 2013 promoting Scotland's natural beauty and biodiversity, and promoting opportunities for visitors to enjoy our beautiful landscapes, wildlife and heritage responsibly. Scottish Natural Heritage have announced their funding priorities related to this theme.

The Linked Work and Training Trust are offering a new Award in Volunteering Skills open to people of all ages to provide formal recognition of volunteering activity. Achievements already gained via other Volunteering Awards such as the Saltire Awards (for young people aged 14-25) may count towards achievement in the new Award. 

A new living wage level of £7.45 per hour has been announced by the Scottish Living Wage Campaign and Living Wage Foundation.

The current scale and diversity of community ownership of assets across Scotland is revealed in a new baseline study carried out by the Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS).

The Health and Safety Executive has released a new and comprehensive online  'Health and Safety Toolbox' which will be useful not just for small businesses but also voluntary sector organisations that have premises and /or staff.  

The Charities Restricted Funds Reorganisation (Scotland) Regulations 2012 comes into effect on 1 November 2012, making it possible for charities to apply to OSCR for consent to free up restricted assets that they have been unable to access because of outdated restrictions. New guidance explaining the legislation and process has been prepared by OSCR.

The UK Government has launched a new website amalgamating information previously held seperately on each of the Direct.gov and Business Link websites. Gov.uk is particularly useful as a reference point for community groups that are already employing paid staff - or considering doing so.

'About that First Tweet ' is a new practical guide aimed at helping charities and community groups to take the first steps into making use of social media. With permission from the authors Unity Trust Bank (in partnership with Social Misfits Media) this new guide is now available as a download from the Community Toolkit.

Launched last month to replace the Equalities and Human Rights Commission helpline, the new Equality Advisory Support Service offers assistance to individuals who need advice and support on discrimination issues. 

Good news for incorporated organisations:- from 1st October 2012, statutory filing will cost a little bit less, with reduced fees for annual returns to Companies House.

Interested in learning more about the community benefit from renewable energy projects? The Scottish Government Register of Community Benefits from Renewables is a unique and valuable tool for helping communities through the community benefit process.

Information available about the Blue Badge Scheme on the Community Toolkit has been reviewed and an external link added for further details.

BIG Scotland has announced additional funding for the Commonwealth Legacy 2014 Communities grants programme.

A statistical overview of the financial health of the Third Sector in Scotland 2010-11 is now available from  the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.   

The Government Equalities Office has published guidance for service providers and their customers to help them prepare and understand the new ban on age discrimination that comes into force on 1st October 2012.

Need some help with measuring the more  intangible outcomes relating to 'well-being'? The Centre for Well-being at the new economics foundation (nef) has produced a short handbook for voluntary organisations and community groups to help with this aspect of monitoring and evaluating projects and services.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) have recently extended their support programme and launched a new website offering support to groups interested in community energy projects.

Acas and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have developed short good practice guidance to help employers deal effectively and fairly with pregnancy and maternity when one of their staff is facing redundancy.

The information on statutory filing for charities on the Community Toolkit has been updated to include reference and a link to the OSCR online service.

The Scottish Government has launched a new national child protection website.

The Joint Improvement Team (JIT) website is packed with information relevant to support agencies and voluntary groups involved in health and social care provision, particularly those working as part of a health and social care partnership. Of particular relevance to the Change Fund and Reshaping Care for Older People are the support materials on the JIT website.

Following the recent review of Community Planning and Single Outcome Agreements, Scottish Government have set out revised guidance for Community Planning Partnerships and emphasised the continued importance of Third Sector involvement.

Inspiring Impact is a new ten year project which will help community groups measure the social impact of their services and activities.   

The Scottish Information Commissioner has launched a new online resource to help voluntary organisations and campaigners to get the most out of Scotland’s Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. 

Social media is an effective tool to engage and interact with your members and supporters. The Community Toolkit's updated 'Social Media' page contains information to help your group understand social media and make it work for you.

OSCR's new online service, 'OSCR Online' was launched to charities on 11 June.

OSCR online enables charities to submit their Annual Returns and accounts as well as update their details, such as adding a website address to their entry in the Scottish Charity Register.

‘Can you Plan It’ is a free accessible resource to assist voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations staff in the business planning process.

With the Supreme Court Hearing set for 27th and 28th November 2012, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland is are continuing with their grants programme and funding surgeries. 

Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland are focused on improving the quality of life for people in Scotland who are disadvantaged or at risk of becoming disadvantaged. It has a particular emphasis on funding grassroots charities.

IMSRadio.net the provider of Instore Royalty Free Music Solutions to business are ensuring charity shop staff and customers can enjoy background music at no ongoing cost to the charity.

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has launched a new fund to support organisations in the early phases of thinking about a merger.

A new Community Toolkit section offering guidance and advice about volunteering has been launched.

ACAS, the workplace relations experts, have launched new guidance to help managers have difficult conversations in the workplace.

There a number of funding programmes available to projects which relate to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The website 'A Games legacy for Scotland' identifies these as well as providing information on of the ways community groups can get involved in the 2014 Games.

From the 4^th May the Community Toolkit will include a pop up text box to page headers in compliance to the EU laws governing the use of cookies.