[WiLT] The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration - interim report from the Treasury

[WiL Admin]

The future role of the third sector in social and economic
regeneration - interim report from the Treasury

In the Budget the Chancellor launched a review looking at the vital
future role third sector organisations, such as social enterprises,
voluntary and community groups, and charities play in our society. To
inform the review the Chancellor promised the largest ever
consultation with the third sector. In fulfilling this promise HM
Treasury jointly with the Cabinet Office, working with other
Government Departments, has conducted the largest ever consultation
with the sector, reaching over 2,000 people, representing over 1,000
organisations across the country. There were a total of nine regional
and 84 sub-regional consultation events, which included having
targeted events for equalities and faith groups, social enterprises,
the private sector and local government.

In his Pre Budget Report, the Chancellor set out the findings from the
consultation, and as an early response to the issues raised during the
consultation, and announced:
* a commitment from Government to see three-year funding settlements
passed to third sector organisations as the norm rather than the
exception;
* a community assets fund of £30m to enable communities and community
groups to take on the management and ownership of assets;
* allocation of an extra £6.5 million within the Safer and Stronger
Communities fund in Local Area Agreements, with a focus on building
the capacity of local community groups and to help strengthen the
voice of the local third sector.

Building on these announcements and recent investment in social
enterprise, announced last month, the review will now undertake
further work to set out a common vision for the partnership between
Government and the third sector.

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebudgetreport/prebudpbr06/otherdocs/prebudpbr06odthirdsector.cfm

PDF file of the future role of the third sector in social and economic
regeneration - interim report (428KB)
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/53E/94/pbr063rdsector_428.pdf


----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Some extracts from the interim report:

Foreword

. We want to work to strengthen the relationship between the state and
sector, how we can match up the different strengths of the state and
the third sector so that we can better enable people to change society
in five key areas.

First, campaigning and voice. As we recognise the pioneering and
culture changing role you play, we want the sector's voice to be heard
more loudly over the coming years. Secondly public services, through
greater third sector delivery and reforming the way the state delivers
itself, to focus on the users of public services. Thirdly to build
strong and active communities with the sector's ability to reach out,
engage, provide support and networks for people who often find
themselves isolated and alone. In a world where people are more mobile
and traditional institutions have broken down, this is more important
than ever. Fourthly social enterprise. The Government's vision is of
dynamic and sustainable social enterprises, contributing to a stronger
economy and fairer society. This is critical to the successful
economic and social regeneration of many communities. Finally, the
Government needs to create the right environment in which
organisations are empowered and enabled to achieve these changes. .

Equalities based organisations

One of the great strengths of the third sector is its diversity.
Accurate data on this diversity is difficult to obtain but of those
organisations who are registered charities, it is possible to identify
a significant number working on equalities issues. Based on the
organisation's stated beneficiaries, this includes, over 11,400
charities working with women, over 11,700 charities working with
people of a particular minority ethnic origin, over 37,100 charities
working with people with a disability and over 200 charities covering
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities (Guidestar UK
database). The Government recognises the crucial role that third
sector equalities based organisations play in helping reduce
inequality and building community cohesion. Equalities groups
undertake a vast array of activities, and play a vital role in
supporting those who can feel marginalised from society to develop
their voice and be heard. The Government wants to address barriers
that equality groups face to participation in civic life. The
Government has put in place strategies and legislation to tackle
discrimination to enable diverse communities to be included in
society. To continue the implementation of these policies and
strategies in a coherent way, the Commission for Equality and Human
Rights (CEHR), will come into being in October 2007, and will work
across Government and actively with organisations across the third
sector to take this agenda forward.

THE NEXT STAGE

The consultation has shown that there is a wide range of areas where
the Government needs to develop its understanding further, working
with third sector partners and drawing on the information that has
already been received. These fall into five broad categories:
* voice and campaigning - enabling individuals and groups' voices to
be heard;
* communities - building active, strong and connected communities;
* public services - creating an environment where third sector
organizations can contribute fully to transforming public services;
* social enterprise - supporting social enterprises to start up and
thrive; and
* supporting the environment for a healthy third sector.

The priority for the Government in the next few months is to work with
partner organisations to examine these five areas in more depth. This
will involve further consideration of the consultation responses
already received, research, assessment of international evidence and
focused consultation events. The Government will continue to consider
the longer-term opportunities and challenges for the third sector, in
the light of ongoing analysis of potential developments in the
economy, the environment and society.

GATHERING EVIDENCE

To contribute to gathering information in these areas, and as part of
the second stage of the review, an interactive web-based consultation
will be launched in December. It will provide the opportunity to post
responses to the specific questions posed in this document and for
comments to be shared on the proposed five themes. It will also
include a 'post box' for organisations to share with the review
evidence and analysis, which will help inform the next stage of the
work. The questions will be available at:
* http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector
* http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ctsfu


----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

For more about the review which took place over the summer see
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/publicspendingandservices/thirdsector/pssthirdsectorconsultations.cfm

Posted on WiLT blog at
http://www.freecharity.org.uk/~womeninlondon/?p=194