Peers have questioned government ministers over why they are simultaneously developing three separate strategies for civil society and charity.
Four ministers - including Tracey Crouch, minister for civil society - appeared yesterday before the Lords Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagement, and outlined three strategies for democratic engagement, integration and civil society.
But Lord Hodgson, chair of the committee, criticised the "stop, start" nature of the government's approach, and questioned whether the three strategies would fit together as they ought to.
Ministers appearing before the committee were:
- Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, parliamentary under secretary of state, at Department for Communities and Local Government
- Tracey Crouch, minister for sport and civil society at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- Nick Gibb, minister for school standards and equalities at the Department for Education
- Brandon Lewis, minister for immigration at the Home Office
Ministers told the committee that they all work closely together.
Civil society strategy
Crouch said that the strategy that her department is leading on, the civil society strategy, came about because of conversations with the sector.
The strategy will be formally announced in January when a consultation will begin, with a fuller document to be published before the summer recess.
She said the aim is to “provide bit of focus for the sector and for Whitehall”
Baroness Morris of Yardley, Labour peer, said it was the civil society strategy that was “confusing me” because “it looks as though it should underpin” others but “but the timing is it’s not even going to start its discussion paper until after the other strategies” have been set out.
Crouch said that the civil society strategy was different from the others.
“We see civil society as a golden thread runs through all of Whitehall departments and actually what we’re trying to do is bring that all together,” she said.
The strategy will be a “much wider look at civil society strategic direction for the future, focusing on a whole variety of issues,” she said. This will include volunteering, small charities, alternative finance and use of National Lottery receipts.
There are “lots of challenges for civil society” she said, “and we want to make sure that we provide a focus through proper strategic direction, which hasn’t happened for well over a decade”.
She said that the other strategies had “very specific remits” and the civil society strategy will be “much wider”.
‘People don’t understand what volunteering is’
In response to a question about increasing volunteering Crouch said that “affordability” and “awareness” were key barriers.
She said: “People don’t necessarily understand what volunteering is. At no point as a football coach did I think of myself as a volunteer.”
“In many respects what we need is an internet dating service for volunteers so that they can match their skills with the opportunities that are local to them.”
She also said that her department was looking at ways to “kickstart grassroots movements” through its community organisers programme and that it was working with the Centre for Ageing better and others to increase participation from older people.
Response to the Lords charities committee due soon
Crouch also apologised to Baroness Pitkeathley, chair of the charities committee, for the delay in the government response to that committee’s conclusions.
“I am so sorry that you haven’t had a response to the report, which is an excellent report,” she said.
“I can tell you I have done my bit. But we do hope to get it to you before we rise for Christmas next week. I can only apologise on that.”
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