The Workforce Project, subtitled "Stopping people jumping ship" hopes to tackle retention problems within the sector and address a history of poor employment practice.

"Trustee boards haven't traditionally had good employment practice at the top of their priorities," despite HR accounting for 43% of their spending, said project head Joanna Wootten at the launch last night. "Instead of being seen as a business essential…it is often regarded as a fluffy extra."

The three-year programme will include HR web briefings, events on recruitment and retention, case studies, resource packs and membership networks. It is funded by the Community Fund and is being run in conjunction with the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration, the NACVS, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Black Training and Enterprise Group and the Cranfield Trust.

For more information visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk