NCVO has today launched a public affairs consultancy service aimed at charities.

The not-for-profit service will focus on strategic advice and training and will provide advice on how best to influence public policy, build alliances and shape legislation, with a range of training packages on engaging with Westminster and Whitehall.

Former civil servant Danny Herbert has joined NCVO from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to head up the new service.

Chloe Stables, NCVO’s parliamentary and media manager, said: “Many charities feel they need to engage with the political system in order to best help the people they work on behalf of, but may lack the confidence, knowledge or resources to do so. Big public affairs agencies can seem hard to approach and hard to afford for smaller charities.

“As a charity ourselves, we are in a unique position to provide a service that can help these organisations.”