Membership body Bond has proposed that various restrictions on charities’ ability to campaign should be removed to reverse a “dramatic decline” in UK civic space.
In a report published this week, Bond shared several policy ideas based on discussions across civil society of the past two years.
The ideas shared include that charities should be enabled to engage exclusively in political campaigning for as long as they need to deliver their charitable purpose.
Bond, which represents over 400 international development organisations, suggested that registered charities could be exempted from non-party campaigning rules.
It proposed that restrictions on organisations that receive government funding from speaking out should be removed and that the list of charitable purposes could be expanded to include promotion of democratic values and processes.
Bond also suggested that changes could be made to the way the Charity Commission’s chair is appointed to prevent the regulator from being seen to be politicised.
It said the ideas in its report received various levels of support within the sector and were intended to stimulate conversation.
Covenant momentum ‘dwindling’
Bond published a separate report today on “shrinking” civic space in the UK, which raises concerns about the “dwindling momentum” of the government’s Civil Society Covenant.
The membership body said the covenant, published last July, had the potential to improve relations between the government and parts of the sector.
However, it criticised a delay to setting up the Civil Society Council, intended to oversee the covenant’s implementation.
In its policy proposal report, Bond said the covenant’s pledges such as protecting protest rights were welcome but needed to be “properly resourced and fully implemented”.
It said the Cabinet Office’s updated grant standards guidance, pledged in the covenant and published in November, was better than the previous version “but it omits to mention a core purpose of the covenant: partnership working”.
Bond also welcomed a new feedback service for charities in receipt of funding but pointed out that promised changes to model services contracts have not yet been made.
The membership body also raised concerns about the crime and policing bill, which it said will “erode protest rights in the UK” when passed.
Nativist populism ‘threatens’ charities
Besides the covenant, Bond expressed concern about the effect a recent rise in “nativist populism” is having on charities in its civic space report.
“We are concerned that growing threats to charities, as well as to the people who work and volunteer for them, will cause additional harm to UK civic space as organisations working on certain issues may feel less safe to engage in advocacy and campaigning, or to continue their operations,” the report reads.
Bibusa Musukwa, Bond’s policy and advocacy adviser on civic space, said: “This year’s review highlights the challenging operating environment for civil society and campaigners, in a year that has seen the introduction of a bill that would impose stricter legislation on protests, and a slow start to the Civil Society Covenant.
“Over three years, Bond has tracked and analysed worrying changes to the UK civic space across the legal, political and regulatory environment.
“It’s clear that UK civic space is shrinking – with campaigners facing increasing barriers to work, and some charities forced to shutter their doors against threats of violence from the far-right.
“The UK’s global reputation as a peaceful, tolerant country with vibrant civic space has been heavily damaged.
“Now, the government must act urgently to halt further democratic backsliding, and counter harmful anti-migrant rhetorics that fuel violence and hate.
“Protecting the right to peaceful protest, and implementing the terms of the Civic Society Covenant to support meaningful public scrutiny are crucial steps to defend civil society and restore our international reputation.”
