Concerns were raised at the NCVO riots summit that solutions the voluntary sector will put forward to prevent future riots, could be interpreted as opportunism, and an inevitable ask for more cash.

This was one of the points made yesterday at the NCVO event, which involved 100 charities and minister for civil society Nick Hurd.

The summit, which looked at the causes and solutions to the riots, and how charities related to this, broadly found a consensus that the voluntary sector had an important role as a bridge between statutory agencies, such as the police and government, and local communities.

Faiza Chaudary, deputy chief executive at NCVYS, who tweeted from the event, said: “When there is so little trust in stat agencies...charities are one of the few agencies left that communities &young ppl trust!”

But, Karl Wilding, head of research and policy at NCVO, who also tweeted from the event, commented that: “It's too difficult to find the vol sector at a local level when ppl need help. It needs a stronger local profile.”

Other tweeters from the event, said discussions were held on the role of poverty, race and young people in the riots. There were also strong calls for the government to focus on enterprise and job creation in response, and debates on the role of the media in the riots.

Some suggested that young people needed to be involved more in the commissioning process, and government programmes such as the Work Programme.

There was much praise for Nick Hurd, who was found to be listening and engaging well.

However, some tweeters criticised the event for not bringing up much new thinking.

Steve Clare, director of campaigns at Locality, tweeted: “To be critical - not much new thinking coming out from discussions #riotsummit.”

And Wilding tweeted that a charity raised concerns that solutions the sector put forward could be interpreted as opportunism.

NCVO plans to prepare a report on the event and share it with government before the end of the year.