The local voluntary and community sector must make sure it stays “a little loose and baggy”, former Navca chief executive Kevin Curley told a room full of sector leaders last night.

Navca’s Parliamentary reception doubled as Curley’s leaving do, and his perfectly-pitched speech had the audience in peals of laughter.

He began by recalling that Alun Michael MP, who was hosting the reception, used to describe the voluntary sector as a “loose and baggy monster”.

“I always liked that,” Curley said. “I don’t want local charities to tighten up or smarten up too much, because I am sure they wouldn’t do such a good job for local people if they did. So stay a little loose and baggy, everyone, please.”

He also quoted some of the comments that had been made to him by Navca staff when he retired last month.

“Navca’s cleaner revealed: ‘I’ve never told you this before Kevin, but my nickname for you is Clark Kent’,” he announced. “But the prize message came from Navca’s head of communications Barney Mynott, who wrote in my card: ‘Kevin, I’m sure you’ll be a pain in the ass for years to come.’ Barney, I will try my best.”

He went on to say that his mother could never understand what it was he did in his job.

“It’s simple, Mum, I’d say. I lead a charitable infrastructure organisation. We develop civil society, build social capital and community cohesion.  And we do all this on a strong values base within an outcomes-focused framework.

“And she said, yes Kevin, but when are you going to get a real job?”

He concluded on a serious note with a message for all the Parliamentarians gathered in the room: “Make sure your local CVS and your local volunteer centre is supported by your local council and by the local NHS.  Don’t let them do what Nottinghamshire County Council or Enfield PCT have done, slashing voluntary sector support, breaching the Compact, ignoring the government’s Best Value Guidance on fairness and leaving so many vulnerable people with no safety net.”

Click here to read Nick Hurd’s tribute to Kevin.