A guide to procurement law

NCVO and NAVCA have published a free guide to commissioning and procurement law. Pathways through the Maze – a Guide to Procurement Law, written by Anthony Collins Solicitors, aims to help voluntary groups understand the legal and practical issues of public sector contracting. It is free to download from the NCVO and Navca websites.

The guide answers the most common questions voluntary and community organisations have about procurement processes and explains the legal requirements applying to public bodies' procurement exercises. It is written specifically for people working for local charities, voluntary organisations, community groups or social enterprises.

Women in Governance

Women in Governance: listening to the voices of female councillors and learning from their journeys (PDF, 3MB) has been published by GAP Unit. The research explored the views and experiences of female councillors in the North West of England, focussing on the barriers, motivations and support structures which exist for women as they become active in public life. It also looks at the factors they feel detract from their ability to work effectively as local councillors, and the things that support and sustain them on a personal and practical level. In addition, the participants shared their ideas on ways of encouraging and supporting more women to enter public life.