Charities tell minister civil society strategy must lead to action

18 May 2018 News

Paul Streets, chief executive, Lloyds Bank Foundation

A group of charity bodies has written to the minister for civil society highlighting their key priorities for the civil society strategy.

The deadline to respond to the consultation is next Tuesday and 14 chief executives from organisations that fund, represent or support charities have written to Tracey Crouch to emphasise their key priorities; that the new strategy leads to better ongoing engagement with the sector and a strategic use of funds.

The signatories are: Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Acevo, Association of Charitable Foundations, Bond, Charity Finance Group, Children England, Clinks, Directory of Social Change, Institute of Fundraising, Locality, Navca, New Philanthropy Capital, Small Charities Coalition, and 360 Giving.

Each organisation will also be submitting its own detailed response.

The letter said: “We are collectively calling on the government to ensure the new strategy has the strength to transform the government’s relationship with the sector so that we can work collectively to build a stronger society.”

Paul Streets, chief executive of the Lloyds Bank Foundation, said: “Civil society is under real pressure but perhaps has never been more needed. We have warmly welcomed the government’s consultation on a strategy to support civil society and it’s important that it results in real change and action.

“That is why we have come together as 14 organisations that fund, represent and support 1,000s of charities, to urge ministers to deliver a strategy that commits to engaging with charities right across government, and to using and reforming funding to better support charities to be sustainable, grow and thrive.”

Claire Godfrey, head of policy and campaigns at Bond, added: “The government has said that it recognises the right of charities to campaign and values the benefits it has for our society and communities. But words are not enough unless they are followed by action. Now is the time for action; it is time to reform the Lobbying Act and it is time to stop inserting anti-advocacy clauses into government grant agreements.”