The Government re-shuffle has resulted in new Ministerial and Shadow persons covering the Office of the Third Sector.

Kevin Brennan is the new Minister for the Third Sector. He was formerly a parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, where his responsibilities included the third sector, child protection, children in care, asylum-seeking children, school food and youth sport. A teacher by profession, 49-year-old Brennan was formerly a member of the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee. He was first elected as MP for Cardiff West in June 2001.

His departmental boss and the Cabinet Minister for the Cabinet Office is Liam Byrne. He was elected MP for Hodge Hill, in Birmingham, when 34 and joined the Government ranks nine months afterwards as a junior health Minister. Until his new appointment he was the borders and immigration Minister at the Treasury and the Home Office. Before entering Parliament he co-founded his own IT firm. He has written widely about public service reform, economic development, and shared values.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today named the twenty two projects that will share in a £1.3 m Community leadership Fund aimed at supporting Muslim communities to unlock the potential of local people to take a lead on tackling violent extremism

Building and strengthening community leadership is one of the central aims of the Government's preventing extremism agenda. The aim is to support people finding solutions to local issues and responding to local concerns.
The Community Leadership Fund provides grants to projects that have mainly national reach and scope and places a particular emphasis on those activities that are focused on fostering the leadership skills of Muslim women and young people.

For more information visit http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/166113

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Children and Families Secretary Ed Balls have launched a new Young Muslim Advisory Group and unveil the names of the twenty two young people who will act as advisors.

The group, who will have their first official meeting in the coming weeks, will work directly with Government to help deepen its engagement with young Muslims. The advisors will talk to ministers and policy makers first hand about the issues affecting their day to day lives.

Ranging in age from 16-25 this unique group is comprised of individuals from across England and across denominations and includes students, undergraduates as well as a trainee lawyer, youth leaders, a speech and language therapist.

The Young Muslim Advisory Group (YMAG) will have direct access to senior cabinet ministers and will work with Government departments to find solutions to a range of challenges including tackling discrimination; increasing employment levels; preventing extremism and boosting civic participation.

These two day workshops are targeted at officers from local government, health services, police,
fire service, housing bodies, voluntary organisations and from any organisation involved in partnership
working and involvement with the community. The workshops aim to give officers a better
understanding of current developments affecting local communities and the issues and challenges
involved in local leadership, democracy and community empowerment.

Workshops Sessions:
Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd October 2008 @ The Hooper Building, Hull

The Refugee Art Competition is nearing the closing date. The competition is open to any refugee and asylum seeker with a £50 prize for the winner. The closing date is 29th August! However, because this wasn't circulated as well as intended, some entries may be accepted after this date if you contact me to discuss. See this link to the Refugee Art Competition flyer for further information:

http://www.refugeeaccess.info/uploads/y&h/RIM_art_comp_july08.pdf