Review by Rosemary Curtis, Personnel Solutions in the Arts
(Second Edition, DSC, 2001, ISBN 1 900360 72 1, £42 for Voluntary Organisations, £60 for others [£50.50 inc. p&p for Voluntary Organisations]*)
The publisher?s blurb says the Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook is ?easy-to-use?, and ?an indispensable work of reference?. Absolutely true. Whether you want to know about the legal issues relating to setting up, governing and running an organisation; employment and volunteering matters; finance, funding and fundraising; health and safety, licences, copyright (and more), you?ll find the information you need here. The layout is clear, with excellent cross-references, including useful sources of information at the end of each chapter. The authors want to give ?enough information so that readers can understand not only what the law says, but why it says it?. They explain the most complex legal terms in plain English, so the handbook is relevant to both specialists and generalists.
If you already have the first edition, you won?t need to be persuaded of its usefulness, but might wonder whether it?s worth investing in the new edition. Yes, it is. There have been major changes over the past five years, including a raft of new employment laws, developments in charity law, data protection and, of course, the overarching Human Rights Act. The second edition reflects these and you can keep abreast of future updates through the authors? own websites, which also provide links to other relevant sites. As an independent consultant and a trustee working with arts organisations, I personally find it invaluable and couldn?t wait for the second edition. It?s all I hoped for and, to misquote the advert, does everything that it says on the cover.
* SAM?s Books is a specialist supplier of books for arts professionals.
For further information and invoicing, contact: SAM?s Books, Chaldon Court, Church Lane, Chaldon, Caterham, CR3 5AL, t/f: 01883 345011 e: books@sam-arts.demon.co.uk, w: http://www.sam-arts.demon.co.uk