Dame Mary Marsh appointed to review charity sector's skills3

Governance | Kirsty Weakley | 11 Oct 2012

Dame Mary Marsh has been appointed by the minister for civil society to lead a review into leadership and skills in the voluntary sector.

Nick Hurd has asked her to look at how effectively existing support for the sector is meeting its need. The review will bring together key figures from the sector and from business to look at the challenges and opportunities, reporting its findings in spring 2013.

Marsh is the founding director of the Clore Social Leadership programme and was chief executive of the NSPCC for eight years, among many roles in the social sector. She has also been a member of the National Council of the Learning and Skills Council.

In August the Office for Civil Society published a report outlining its progress on new initiatives and revealed that priorities were to help the sector exploit technology and support volunteer infrastructure.

Hurd said: “Charities and social enterprises must meet the reality of tough economic conditions head-on and be ready to play a greater role in the delivery of public services, if they are to fulfil their potential to help create a better, stronger society.”

He added that Marsh would also “examine how the capabilities that exist now need to adapt if the sector is to successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Marsh said: “All of us who are committed to securing effective social action know that there is an urgent need for us to gain new skill t lead and contribute in a radically changed context.”

She added: “The review must help us focus on the most urgent gaps in our capability and find smart ways of overcoming them.”

Directory: NSPCC | National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) | Office for Civil Society
Who's Who: Dame Mary Marsh

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Alistair Heron
12 Oct 2012

And yet recently we have heard Rory Stewart MP suggesting that professionalisation of the sector has alientated the public. Which is it to be?

[Reply]

Skills - Third Sector
Skills - Third Sector
12 Oct 2012

Skills - Third Sector welcomes Dame Mary Marsh’s leadership and skills review.

“Dame Mary’s appointment is the most significant recognition by Government of the central importance of developing skills in our sector in recent times,” says Keith Mogford, Chief Executive of Skills – Third Sector. “We understand that her new role is intended to work with the sector to identify challenges and best practice, then supporting the sector to respond by catalysing the implementation of solutions and replication of best practice. We hope this will enable our sector to improve our approaches to attraction, retention and development of high quality skills and leadership – this is essential to the sector being able to tackle the challenges of a changing environment head-on.”

“Dame Mary’s appointment goes to the heart of our conference theme,” adds Keith Mogford.

[Reply]

I Stewart
Bursar
St Catherine's School
11 Oct 2012

After a review of the Charity Sector, they might wish to try a review of leadership and skills in Banking and the Civil Service. I think in the last few years they have more to answer for than any other segment.

[Reply]

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