Charities 'megaphone' fund stirs debate about campaigning

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 16 Apr 2009

Charities may receive part of a £750,000 government fund to assist their campaigning, despite criticism that the practice is a waste of time and money.

Cabinet Office minister Liam Byrne yesterday revealed that the government will offer the cash to 30 small charities to give them a “megaphone” to represent vulnerable, disadvantaged groups and influence parliament. The grants will be distributed by Capacitybuilders and are believed to involve two-year funding, directed chiefly towards organisations working within the areas of disability and young people.

His announcement follows an opinion article in The Times by Jill Kirby, director of the Centre Policy Studies, which accused charities such as Save the Children and Barnardo’s of “shameless political campaigning” and suggested it erodes trust in charities.

In response to Kirby’s criticisms, Byrne said: "It is quite easy for politicians, or think tanks or big companies to come onto the Today programme and put our arguments across. But for vulnerable groups, it is often much harder.

“Very often it is charities and campaigning groups who give a voice to people that don't get listened to enough," he said.

Byrne’s announcement of the package, further details of which are due to be announced sometime in the spring, has received support from the NCVO.

It has also brought to light differences in opinion within the Conservative Party. Earlier this month Tory spokesman for the third sector Nick Hurd confirmed his support for charities being allowed to politically campaign at an NCVO conference, telling attendees that campaigners “play a vital role in our society and have secured real change for all”.

Senior Tory MP John Redwood blasted the proposal.

“Giving [charities] money to advertise against the government is just crazy”, he said. On his blog Redwood, who is chair of the Economic Competitiveness Policy Group, added that the government should hold meetings with charities rather than spend taxpayers’ money in having them lobby.

Directory: National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Who's Who: Celina Ribeiro

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