The government’s new minister for civil society has been welcomed by sector leaders.
Vicky Foxcroft will replace Stephanie Peacock as the minister within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) with responsibility for charities, it was announced yesterday.
Foxcroft is also now responsible for gambling, the National Lottery, youth, loneliness, digital inclusion and skills.
Peacock, who held the civil society brief for two years, will lead on the Office for the Impact Economy – a cross-sector government initiative which moved from the Cabinet Office to DCMS after Andy Burnham became prime minister in July.
The office, formed last year, is designed to unite charities, business, social investors, philanthropists and community leaders.
Peacock’s new brief also includes sport, tourism, place and digital governance.
In a social media post reflecting on her new responsibilities, Peacock said: “Every charity, youth worker, and volunteer I’ve met has shown tireless dedication.”
The confirmation of DCMS’s ministerial briefs follows criticism from charity sector figures about the almost two-month wait since Burnham became prime minister on 20 July.
Posting to LinkedIn last month, Directory of Social Change (DSC) chief executive Debra Allcock Tyler said: “I am tired of our sector languishing.
“Why, despite all this government's exhortations about how much we matter, are we still seen as such a low priority?”
The House of Commons has been in summer recess since 16 July and returned on 1 September.
Sector bodies respond
Jane Ide, ACEVO chief executive, called for Foxcroft to prioritise the charity sector.
“At a time of significant challenge and opportunity for the sector to demonstrate its value as a key strategic partner, we hope the new minister will champion civil society across government,” she said.
Ide added that ACEVO looked forward to meeting Foxcroft to ensure charity leader expertise informs government decisions, including on the Civil Society Covenant.
Meanwhile, Jay Kennedy, DSC policy lead, urged for clarity amid a “growing list of pressing problems” affecting the sector.
"It's good that we've finally had confirmation that Vicky Foxcroft will have responsibility for civil society policy.
“Charity leaders need clarity about who's responsible for what in government so they can work constructively together.
“Her previous experience means she should hit the ground running and hopefully now we can start to make real progress,” Kennedy added.
Sector experience
Foxcroft was appointed DCMS parliamentary undersecretary of state on 22 July as part of Burnham’s reshuffle.
She was previously a junior lord of the treasury – or government whip – from 10 July 2024 to 19 June the following year.
Foxcroft was shadow charities minister from 24 June 2019 to 10 April 2020.
She was elected Lewisham North MP in 2024, having represented Lewisham, Deptford from 2015.
According to her LinkedIn, she previously worked as a finance sector officer at trade union Unite.
She has been chair of community cohesion charity Deptford First since October 2016 – for almost 10 years, according to the Charity Commission.
