The Directory of Social Change has labelled the government’s consultation on the sector’s infrastructure “shambolic” and likened it to Labour’s controversial ChangeUp programme.

In an article on the charity’s website, policy officer Jay Kennedy (pictured) criticised the Office for Civil Society’s Supporting a Stronger Civil Society consultation, saying that the very term ‘infrastructure’ is an unsuitable starting point for discussion.

He said: “As with the original ChangeUp programme, there is a fundamental conceptual flaw.  Namely, the assumption that there is such a thing as ‘voluntary sector infrastructure’ and that it is government’s role to change, direct, organise it.

“That this attitude and terminology perseveres in this paper is all the more surprising given the Big Society narrative – which seems to be against formal, established systems and central control.”

Charities as businesses

Kennedy also rubbished the suggestion that charities should become more businesslike.

“The document goes on to claim that in the future it will ‘be vital for civil society organisations to improve their business skills, become more entrepreneurial, and strengthen their governance’ in order to take advantage of the ‘opportunities on offer'. 

“Why? What opportunities?  These maxims are presented as inherent truths without any explanation or argument.  It’s not even clear what organisations we’re talking about here.

“Trying to turn charities into businesses and pressuring them to merge simply because this is current ideological fashion is not likely to be conducive to good charity governance.”

The consultation closes on 6 January.