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Face to face fundraising
The fundraising technique where teams of bib-wearing young people stop passers by in the street and urge them to sign up to give to charity by direct debit. The street teams are controversial - opponents cite the hassle factor and brand the fundraisers 'charity muggers' or 'chuggers'. But charities and fundraising organisations say it is effective, especially as it encourages committed giving - regular donations - rather than a one off gift. The draft charities bill includes measures that will regulate the face to face teams for the first time - they are not covered by current law on street collections of cash.
Big issue: charity finance
Related articles
Useful link: Public Fundraising Regulatory AssociationFair council
A category in the local government league table system that covers councils that provide reasonable services but need to improve if they are to deliver consistent and reliable standards. The performance of their services often outstrips their ability to improve those services. Of the 150 larger councils, 39 were ranked in this category in 2002.
See also: comprehensive performance assessment (CPA)
Big issue: best value and inspection
Related articles
Useful link: audit commission - league tables in full Family centre
A therapeutic setting where one or both parents attend with their children as part of a family support strategy to help a family under stress stay together.
See also: residential family centre
Big issue: children's services
Related articles
Useful link: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Children Family placement team
Social services teams responsible for organising adoption and fostering.
Big issue: adoption and fostering
Useful link: British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering Flats over shops
A grant scheme to bring empty homes above shops back into use. Particularly encouraged in regeneration schemes aimed at reviving run down town centres.
Related articles
Useful link: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - evaluation of flats over shops Flexible tenure
A type of shared ownership housing under which people can vary the stake in the ownership of their home according to their circumstances.
If a shared owner is struggling to pay their mortgage costs they could go for a cheaper option of cutting the share of the home that they own and pay for more of the home in rent. Conversely, if their income rises they could opt to buy a bigger share in their home, or buy it outright, which would be more expensive but would increase their assets.
Big issue: key worker housing
Related articles
Useful link: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - evaluation of the low cost home ownership Floor
Part of the local government finance system that guarantees a minimum increase in a council's funding every year. Set at 4% in 2002-3 for councils that deliver education and social services, and at inflation for smaller district councils.
Big issue: public finances
Related articles
Useful link: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - local government finance revenue support grant settlement Floor targets
Minimum standards set by the government for improvements in deprived areas, intended as a test for its neighbourhood renewal policy. The targets cover five areas: unemployment, crime, education, health and the environment.
See also: floor
Related articles
Useful link: neighbourhood renewal unit - central government targets Formula spending shares (FSS)
The method the government uses to distribute more than £50bn to councils across England. Allocates money according to the number of people a council serves with top-up grants to recognise factors like deprivation, sparsity and wage costs. Unveiled in 2002, this system replaced the complex and unpopular standard spending assessment.
Related articles
Useful link: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - council finance Foundations
The umbrella body for home improvement agencies.
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Useful link: Foundations Foundation trusts
The health secretary, Alan Milburn's Big Idea: giving top performing hospitals 'foundation' status will allow them access to a range of management freedoms: released from direct Whitehall control, they would have (to name just two examples) more leeway to borrow money for capital investment; and the ability to vary local pay and conditions. This, the theory goes, will unleash local innovation and entrepreneurial spirit and drive up hospital performance and efficiency. Critics claim that this will lead to a two-tier system in which 'elite' NHS hospitals get more resources at the expense of failing hospitals. Although they will be at 'arms length' from the Department of Health, foundation organisations (primary care trusts will also be able to apply for foundation status) will remain part of the NHS, and must invest any 'profits' they make back in to patient services. Subject to legislation, the first foundation trusts would become fully operational in April 2004.
Related articles
Q&A: foundation trusts
Big issue: the NHS plan
Useful link: Department of Health foundation trusts page Foyers
A French idea aimed at tackling homelessness and unemployment in the same place by providing accommodation and training for young people under one roof.
Related articles
Useful link: Foyer Federation Franchising
NHS franchising involves identifying the top NHS managers and appointing them to the "biggest challenges", whether failing trusts, key modernisation initiatives, or strategic health authorities. The "franchise" bid for a top job will involve the management team - from the private, voluntary or public sector - producing a business plan and operational strategies and appointing its own top team.
See also: strategic health authority
Big issue: the NHS plan
Related articles
Useful link: Department of Health - Shifting the Balance of Power - the Human Resources Framework Freehold
Exclusive ownership of property for an indefinite period. In contrast with leasehold, which is the right to occupy property for a fixed term.
See also: leasehold
Related articles
Useful link: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - buying the freehold Friendly society
Financial services and insurance organisation that is wholly owned by its members so profits stay within the organisation rather than going to outside shareholders. Often arranged around local areas, charities, employers or religious/cultural groups.
See also: cooperative
Big issue: charity finance
Useful link: directory of friendly societies Full council
A meeting of every councillor on a local authority to vote on council decisions. Has to ratify policy frameworks and decide on budgets.
Related articles
Useful link: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - council constitutions
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