Civil Society Media Ltd’s Post

Interesting article below on the relationship of the state and charity sector. The majority of Oxfordshire charities depend on local government contracts, in turn local government have depended on the charity sector to 'fill the gaps' and do this at cost price. Now with local government cuts, charities that have become dependant on contracts are struggling to keep up with increased costs. So how does this impact Be Free Young Carers? We are independent, and despite the government having the statutory requirement to assess young carers, they chose not to in our county. All our income comes from fundraising and we are seeing competition increase from those charities that have had the luxury of having income from the government, who are now looking to other sources of income. Who knows what the future holds for the charity sector and the support they give to the most vulnerable people in society? I am looking forward to hearing the Senior Labour Leadership outline their plans for civil society on Monday with NCVO

Our first blog of 2024 has landed and it might just be the most important thing we publish all year 💥 As an election year, 2024 will bring a rare & precious opportunity for charities to bring about the change our sector so desperately needs. Here are five things that every charity can and should be doing, even if you're in no way a campaigning organisation: https://lnkd.in/efq85fwN

Even if they have to (which I believe they can do, if not even better) they will need to be properly and appropriately funded and recognised. Its appalling to see some great charities and charitable organisations running around pulling hairs to secure funding to carry on doing the amazing work they do with demonstrable impacts, with those unable to secure funding or expected to perform 150% with 50% funding ceasing to exist. https://lnkd.in/e8qJZEs2

Charities, last week's general election, and public affairs Following the general election last Thursday, our friends at Pro Bono Economics have published a very useful free resource for charities that lists the new 335 new MPs and their experience in the charity sector, as charity employees, charity sector advisors, and trustees. See https://lnkd.in/e_a8ybFN And more good news: Eight Cabinet members have experience in working for charities, up from two in the last parliament, including Lisa Nandy, the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). See https://lnkd.in/ebSvCG_Y If you are looking to research the new cohort of parliamentarians, to understand if they might support your cause, this resource is very useful as it has done most of the work for you. Especially so for small charities that may not be able to afford a subscription to a parliamentary monitoring system or an public affairs agency who could do the sifting for them. So thank you Pro Bono Economics ! But whatever their size, charities will want to start engaging with their local MP, especially if they are new in post, to brief them on their activities in the constituency and to secure their support. Invite them to come and see your charity at first hand during the Summer recess. And if your local MP has held their seat, you might want to contact them too, to remind them of the great work you are doing in their constituency. #governance #charities #parliament #publicaffairs

📢 Do you think a new Government should revise the Compact? The Compact was an initiative of the Blair Labour Government and signed in 1998, a partnership between the the Government and the voluntary and community sector. Interestingly, it is still on the Cabinet Office website signed by David Cameron and Nick Clegg, as part of the Coalition Government. From time to time, I found the principles of the Compact to be really effective to challenge anti advocacy clauses and when Government has sought to compromise the independence of charities. These principles can be used in judicial review, and other types of legal challenges: For example, the fact that as part of the Compact, Government undertook to 'Respect and uphold the independence of charities [other voluntary/community groups] to deliver their mission, including their right to campaign, regardless of any relationship, financial or otherwise, which may exist.' Accordingly, I was interested to hear Lilian Greenwood, Shadow Minister for Civil Society say at a recent Four Nations Civil Society Conference in Cardiff, that Labour did not have a 'pre-set idea' about renewing the Compact and that she had 'heard mixed things about it'. She said she was more interested in 'how we can best develop the Partnership' and that there might be 'different models in different parts of the UK'. She also talked about 'co-creation'. There are a range of nuanced views in the charity sector, but I think a genuine Compact would have support: NPC (New Philanthropy Capital) recommends in its State of the Sector 2024 report that there should be a renewed partnership between government and the voluntary sector and this could include a 'modernised Civil Society Compact' and that this could happen at the local level as well. In a recent Civil Society roundtable that I attended with Sarah Vibert, CEO of NCVO, she recalled that one of her initial roles in the sector was working on on the Compact. “ It was written through the lens of a Labour government believing that charities are an extension of the state and public services, but that is not helpful and is partly why we are in such a mess now. There is room for a framework that sets out these respective roles but it can’t be from the angle of charities providing public services, but about why charity services are special and the knowledge that charities can bring. We need a much more sophisticated conversation.” What do you think and how best to go about this task and yes to a sophisticated conversation about this! #Charities #Compact #Partnership #Independence

Fantastic point of view! The reason most NFPs are there is because of deficits in the social sector, policies and support from government. More and more charities are being made to report and operate like a commercial business, but without the required resources die to the kack of ability to fund non service delivery roles that are still essential, but not seen so when looking for funding, including the people who are actually writing the proposals and acquitals. Also need to look at the single year funding model, whete there is a drive for more community development and engagement. This can’t be done in one year, and all it damages when the funding is not extended is the reputation of the charity. There is no responsibility taken by government. This is not a new problem or one that hasn’t been raised in parliament, but seems to fall on deaf ears. NFP workers and charities need relevant and sustainable funding that supports both comparative salaries, resources to ensure that the demands of outcome measures and financial acquittal processes can be completed appropriately and recognised qualifications and standards are paid appropriately. Stop taking advantage of charities and their staff’s passion for their work. Reward the people that are doing critical roles with suitable pay and maybe you will have less burnout, fatigue and charities that thrive.

We have grants available to support businesses, charities and community groups within rural areas and communities. Grants between £10,000 and £50,000 are available for the execution of capital projects in rural areas. The grants could be used to: • improve community facilities, such as green spaces • boost access to arts and culture in a bid to grow local tourism economies • support agricultural businesses looking to expand their remit and rural businesses looking to launch or grow their products and services The initiative is open to businesses, public sector organisations, higher and further educational institutions, charities and community groups within rural areas and communities. This scheme has received £589,191 from the UK Government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund. This fund is a rural top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is a central pillar of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. For more information and to apply, visit: https://lnkd.in/e4hf8Fm2 #UKSPF #LevellingUp #FundedbyUKGovernment and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

It's time to revive the art and importance of listening to communities and valuing the role of charities - by doing so we can reinvigorate commitment to local issues and direct policy making towards the issues that really matter #civilsociety #consultcommunities #peoplefirst #charitymatters Barnardos Australia

Can you imagine an Australia where charities and community groups are valued beyond a thank you, a well done and a ‘you make a difference’?  A time when charities and their leaders are not asked to do more and more - with less? An Australia where sector reform and investment is a priority for government? And charities are not the ‘third sector’ a long way behind business. Where charities and community groups are considered, involved and influential in policy making for communities and a future that is about flourishing, resilience and productivity? Do you agree with CCA CEO David Crosbie that, ‘Charities should not be the organisational child in the room, smiling graciously as the grown-up business and government sectors pat our heads and tells us what good boys and girls we are for helping.’ That, ‘It’s time we stood up for ourselves.’ Then we invite you to join the exceptional leaders and leading organisations from across the diversity of our charities and for-purpose sector in the collective leadership that is the CCA membership. Connect with us Community Council for Australia | David Crosbie | Deborah Smith. We welcome a conversation. Is ALP policy just decoration? | The Community Advocate: https://lnkd.in/g7xH9ZRu Reforms to government contracting? Once in a blue moon – but still not likely | The Community Advocate: https://lnkd.in/gsX6gXee From Unity comes strength | The Community Advocate: https://lnkd.in/gtuBzhiP #charities #communitygroups #nfps #forpurpose #socialimpact https://lnkd.in/gVb7saJy

Makes for very sobering reading. A few reflections: 1 The sector’s umbrella bodies are critical in assessing and responding to this at a collective level, and deserve a great deal of credit for a cohesive, calm and objective response. 2 Interesting to see that many charities are considering withdrawing from this type of activity. 3 There’s an even bigger picture when we take into account the scale of signposting to 3rd sector services, which aren’t remunerated at all yet which form a part of the wider ecosystem. It’s undoubtedly complex. The relationship between the public and 3rd sectors can’t be distilled into something overly simplistic. But this issue is becoming more and more fundamental to the way that charities work.