The government, public services and investors cannot resolve the UK’s societal issues without civil society, experienced sector leader Polly Neate has warned.
Speaking at NPC Ignites in London on Tuesday, Neate said: “There’s absolutely no way in which investors, government and public services can make a dent in the huge and complex societal issues we face without civil society.
“They can’t do it without civil society being an equal partner with those other sectors, equally influential, equally powerful.
“As every charity leader knows all too well, it’s hard to be an equal when the money is all on the other side of the table.
“But as a sector, we have knowledge and experience without which they will fail. That’s our currency, and valuing it highly ourselves is the start of others valuing it highly too.”
Neate, who stepped down as Shelter’s CEO in March this year, has previously called for stronger cross-sector collaboration between civil society, public and private sectors in order to more effectively resolve the UK’s societal issues.
She was recently appointed as chair of the Future Governance Forum’s Social Insights Panel, a group of civil society leaders which aims to “bring expert insight into the heart of government”.
‘There isn’t a shortage of money – it’s just in the wrong places’
Later, reflecting on her 20-year-long career in the charity sector, Neate touched on the difficulties of civil society receiving sufficient respect from the government, and accordingly receiving enough funding.
Neate added: “People come into our sector to change things for the better, and we understand better than anyone, and yes, I really do mean better than anyone, both what needs to change and how best to do it.
“What’s really difficult […] is getting the people with the money to listen to respect what they’ve heard, both locally and nationally.
“I don’t see civil society organisations getting enough of that respect, and they certainly don’t see enough of the money. I’m not sure there even is a shortage of money. It’s just in the wrong places.”
