6pm- 7:30pm: the Keib Thomas Community Development Seminar on "Community Development Challenges and Changes" Further information from ^{clare@... or telephone: 020 7358 4176.}

Action Learning Set for Third Sector Local Strategic Partnership Representatives

Following the success of London Civic Forum’s Action Learning Sets (ALS) on community engagement, the London Empowerment Partnership will be organizing ALS for third sector representatives on Local Strategic Partnerships. The ALS will use a process of shared and reflective learning to enable more effective representation on Local Strategic Partnerships to build on the principles of Active Learning for Active Citizenship and the Principles of Representation. Participants will be recruited from LSPs across the London boroughs and will be required to attend 5 Action Learning sessions between October 2008 and January 2009. If you are interested in participating in this Action Learning Set, please contact ^natalie@...

or 020 8709 9772.

The London Empowerment Partnership is hosting an event with Government Office for London and the Participatory Budgeting Unit. This is an opportunity for individuals to learn about participatory budgeting (PB) and share best practice examples of how PB has benefited citizens and communities elsewhere. Anyone wishing to implement participatory budgeting as a way of engaging and empowering individuals and communities is invited to attend this event. Representatives from local councils or other statutory agencies, voluntary and community sector organizations, Council for Voluntary Service, Community Empowerment Networks, and LINks may find this event particularly useful. ^{Further information or tel: 020 8709 9772.}

How London Works: City of London’ on Wednesday, 19th November

London Civic Forum recently began its work on the Policy Voice programme to extend the support and opportunities offered to Londoners through the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to engage with and influence a range of regional, central and local policy makers and funders. Our next event will explore the City of London, and the key role that City Corporations plays in London’s political, economic and civil society. Beyond its statutory responsibilities as a local authority, City Corporation has responsibility for Mayoralty and ambassadorial functions, an extensive charity portfolio, and the maintenance of London’s valuable conservation areas, museums and galleries. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the City of London, and how they can engage with its work. ^{More information, email natalie@... or telephone: 020 8709 9772}

Commissioning Opportunities with London Empowerment Partnership

Currently, we are ^{commissioning for (1) the design and development of an ‘Empowerment & Engagement’ website and Empowerment Map, (2) the development of two Empowering Diversity Action Research initiatives and (3) the development of a Community Evaluation Training Programme. Email}

^deirdre@...

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LONDON NEWS

The Mayor ^{set out plans for re-organisation of the Greater London Authority (GLA) at the September Assembly meeting. The Acting Head of Paid Service, Jeff Jacobs will lead on a move towards a more strategic role, with four new departments in place by 2010/2011. These are: "Corporate Affairs", responsible for external liaison with Government, London Boroughs and other partners; "Finance and Operations" responsible for improvement and efficiency throughout the GLA group; "Development and Environment" responsible for ensuring that London’s growth and infrastructure needs are met in a sustainable way; and "Community and Intelligence", which is to strengthen communities, tackle deprivation and improve social mobility. There will be a stand alone Olympics team reporting directly to the Mayor.}

^{Statutory Deputy Mayor for Communities, Richard Barnes is responsible for Health, social inclusion issues, equalities (including disability), diversity aspects of procurement and is also the Leader of the Conservative group on London Assembly. Deputy may Government Relations, is Ian Clement, Leader of Bexley Council and Executive Member of London Councils (the body that represents London’s boroughs) is responsible for advising and leading on the Mayor’s relationships with the Government, and London Boroughs and to lead on international relations, promoting London’s position as a leading world city on behalf of the Mayor}

^{Deputy Mayor, Policing, is Kit Malthouse, Chartered Accountant, London Assembly member and former Council member of Westminster}

^{Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning Simon Milton (Sir) is responsible for advising the Mayor on Planning Housing and Sustainable development. He was Leader of Westminster Council from 2000}

^{London Assembly}

^{At its October meeting on Wednesday 8th London Assembly members will ask questions of the Mayor in relation to the Olympics Village and the costs of the 2012 Games. The agenda also includes a resolution to support "a one-off, time-limited, earned regularization of suitable irregular migrants" calling also for the Mayor’s support on this matter.}

^{Olympic Delivery Authority Launches "Inclusive Design Strategy"}

^{A Guide which will shape design in the Olympic Park before during and after the Games has been published. A number of organizations helped shape the policy through the "Olympic Development Authority Access and Inclusion Forum". These include many London Civic Forum members such as Artsline and Disability Action Waltham Forest. See the Strategy for a full list.}

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^{INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:}

^{Local authorities have to adopt a number of specific targets as part of their funding agreement with government. These targets are called National Indicators (NI) and each is numbered separately. National Indicator 7, known as NI7, has been adopted by one third of London boroughs. NI7 requires support for an environment in which the third sector can thrive. In order to measure the impact of this, the Office of the Third Sector is planning to Survey 104,000 charities to set its baseline data.}

^{October 17, World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty
Recognised in 1992 by the United Nations as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty}

^{http://www.oct17.org/en}

TfL Avatars Pilot

Transport for London (TfL)is piloting the use of animation for user feedback on its website and is looking for local groups to test out the use of Avatars in the week 13th-20th October. If you know anyone who is interested, please contact ^{elincampbell@...}

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^{The Community Empowerment White Paper was launched by Hazel Blears on the 9th July 2008, entitled "Communities in Control: real people, real power‘’. It details the Government’s proposals to enable people to influence decisions that affect their lives, and sets out their commitment to reinvigorate democracy. The London Empowerment Partnership is running an online consultation on the proposals. This will enable individuals and organizations with an interest in these proposals to submit their comments to London Civic Forum. A coordinated response to these proposals will be compiled and submitted to Communities and Local Government. To take part in this online consultation, visit www.londoncivicforum.org.uk}

^natalie@...

London Civic Forum ·
18a Victoria Park Square · London E2 9PB · T: 020 8709 9770 · F: 020 8709 9771
^{www.londoncivicforum.org.uk   Â·   info@...}