Earlier this week the new minister for civil society Brooks Newmark caused controversy with his remarks that charities should "stick to their knitting" and keep out of the "realm of politics". Here he speaks in more detail about his views on charity campaigning.
I have always been passionate about charities and the work they do to change lives. Although I have only been in the role of minister for civil society for a few weeks, I have had years of experience working with local, national and international charities and voluntary groups and I know first-hand how they have the power to help people, communities and enhance government policy.
What I am very clear about is that charities have an incredibly important role to play in helping to shape government policy in the UK.
Charities have been at the forefront of helping to tackle some of the country’s biggest social challenges. To take just a few examples: historically, Barnardo’s and the Shaftesbury Society helped provide education to the wider public. The NSPCC and other child protection charities have argued effectively for significant changes to create a climate where child abuse is simply not tolerated. And currently initiatives such as Dementia Friends are being supported by government to give one million people an understanding of the small things they can do to make a big difference to people living with dementia.
On Wednesday I was reminded of the passion of the charity sector during a question and answer session, when I was asked about whether charities should be political. Let me be clear: charities have every right to campaign within the law. They are brilliant at doing so and are part of the fabric of our society. Indeed the government is working with many charities on changes to current policy. However, it has long been the case under charity law that they must not be party political.
As Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of Acevo, said in a recent blog post: “It is our age-old duty to help our beneficiaries and causes both by delivering services and advocating with them and on their behalf” - and I wholeheartedly agree.
Charities should continue their rich tradition of campaigning for positive change in Britain as effectively as they can; our country is a better place for it.
