The first reports of the Comprehensive Area Assessments were published today on the new website, OnePlace. The six independent inspectorates conducting the CAAs launched their first joint report on the website on 9th December, including assessments on performance on the environment, services for children and young people, raising school standards and cutting disparities in health, as well as community engagement and empowerment. More information

Winners of the Social Enterprise of the Year Award were announced on 4th December. The overall winner was Brighter Futures Workshop, an organisation that repairs and recycles mobility equipment and provides training for young disabled people. More information

Rolande Anderson was announced as the new Director General for the Office of the Third Sector and the Social Exclusion Taskforce on 3rd December. She moves from the Office of National Statistics, having previously been the Regional Director of the Government Officer for the South East. More information  

The Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report was published on December 9th. Not as well reported as the rise in National Insurance, it contains a chapter on reforming financial services which looks at ways to improve access for people in deprived communities in order to help tackle financial exclusion. This goes some way to meeting one of the calls of the Better Banking Campaign. The PBR also includes a commitment to set up a reclaim fund to hold assets from dormant bank accounts and, from this, invest £75m to set up a social investment wholesale bank by the next Budget, with the remainder going to youth services and financial inclusion services. Pre Budget Report