A coalition of infrastructure bodies led by NCVO have written to George Osborne in advance of his Autumn Statement in December, outlining key issues they feel the government should address.

The letter calls for commitments to public service reform, measures to encourage philanthropy and improved access to social investment.

It was written last month but made public yesterday by NCVO.

It calls for improved training for government commissioners, particularly around working with small voluntary organisations, and support for sector organisations to bid for government contracts.

It also calls for the government to break contracts down into smaller lots, to increase the focus on social value in contracting, and to increase the amount spent on early intervention.

It also calls for reform of the gift aid small donations scheme, an expansion of the government’s Endowment Match Challenge, and another three years of the £40m Local Sustainability Fund.

And it calls on the government to provide more help for charities to become ready to take on social investment, and to increase the limit for the amount of money charities can receive under social investment tax relief to £2m.

“As the last Autumn Statement before the general election, we urge the government to take this opportunity to improve the long-term operating environment for charities and social enterprises,” the letter says.

The letter was signed by the Association of Charitable Foundations, Big Society Capital, the Charities Aid Foundation, the Charity Finance Group, Compact Voice, the Institute of Fundraising, Locality, Navca, NCVO, the Small Charities Coalition and Social Enterprise UK.