Sector reveals election wishes

Finance | 22 Jan 2008

As well as a promise to reintroduce the Charities Bill in the first Queen's speech of a new parliament after the general election, sector bodies have outlined their wishlist for the new government.

Acevo welcomed the Labour manifesto as a commitment to consider the voluntary sector on equal terms as a public service provider. Stephen Bubb, acevo chief executive, said: "The third sector's immense potential in public service delivery remains largely unfulfilled. Despite growing political focus on the sector's role in shaping and delivering key services, it is still highly specialised and marginal. It is time for a radical step change."

However, Stuart Etherington, NCVO chief executive, wants the focus of the next government's voluntary and community sector policy to be about more than just public services. "Despite all the successes that we have had over the last ten years, there is a danger that government can view the sector in an instrumental way, as solely a means of providing and improving service delivery.

"The next government needs to have a much broader agenda for the sector, which embraces voluntary action as a means of providing support for the most marginalised individuals and communities."

Shirley Scott, CFDG chief executive, called for a promise that there will be support for charities that walk away from inadequately funded contracts by providing emergency grants to allow the proper wind-down of existing activity and to reimburse the cost of putting together the bid in the first place, the amount of that grant being charged to the contracting body as a penalty.

Simon Hebditch, CAF's director of external affairs, is seeking a renewed commitment to work closely with voluntary organisations in the provision of services to individuals and communities in need through tax incentives and joint work programmes. CAF also wants changes in tax rules to allow charities to jointly own trading companies and share the gift aid benefits.

Directory: Charities Aid Foundation | Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) | National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Who's Who: Simon Hebditch | Sir Stuart Etherington

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