Tracey Crouch, the minister for civil society, has today launched a 12-week consultation with a public call for evidence to inform the new civil society strategy.
Crouch announced that there would be a new civil society strategy last year and it aims to improve how government and public bodies interact with the charity sector.
She said: “The civil society sector is incredible and works hard to deliver so much for people and communities. I want to bring these individuals and organisations together even more to improve communities and help tackle the everyday challenges that people face. The strategy will be important in our mission to build a fairer society and help secure a better future for the next generation.”
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is leading the project but is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other government departments.
Communities minister Jake Berry said: “This strategy reaffirms our commitment to working alongside all sections of society to build a fairer future for all. This piece of work will shape how we work with communities and will encompass their views in order to create a society that works for everyone.”
Four themes
The consultation has been split into four areas: our civil society, people, partnerships and places. Not everyone has to respond to all sections.
- Our civil society: is about the big questions of what civil society is, how it is working well and what needs to change to strengthen it further
- People: explores how more people could take action on issues that matter to them
- Partnership: explores the best ways to work across different sectors to make a better society
- Places: explores how we empower local people to improve the places they live and work
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said it will also hold events around the country where people will be invited to talk about civil society.
Karl Wilding, director of public policy and volunteering at NCVO, said: "We’re very pleased to see the launch of this consultation. The new strategy will be a potentially powerful tool, so it’s important that a large number of people and organisations, from right across the sector, feed into the consultation in order to help get it right. We’re looking forward to engaging in the conversation in the coming weeks and beyond."
Sir John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: “We have been advocating for some years that the power of charities can be harnessed to improve the places where people live and involve more people in civil society, particularly in their local area.
“This call for evidence comes at a crucial time for the sector. It is vital that charities help the government build a strong strategy for civil society that commands support across communities and across political divides. It is also important that this strategy embraces and influences the whole of government – from foreign policy to domestic reform, so that charities can play their full part as a vital part of the British society and economy.”
The consultation closes at 9am on 22 May. Anyone wishing to take part can respond online, email [email protected] or write to the department:
Strategy & Partnerships Team, Office for Civil Society
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
100 Parliament Street
London
SW1A 2BQ
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