The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published an online guide for charities and social enterprises looking to win more public service contracts.
DCMS’s “business hub”, launched today, collates its previously published resources for voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations on working with government.
It comes as the department works with charity umbrella bodies NCVO and ACEVO on the Civil Society Covenant, which is due to set out a new working relationship between the voluntary sector and the state when it is published in the spring.
‘Charities can plan a role as an equal partner’
Civil society minister Stephanie Peacock said in the guide’s foreword: “Resetting the relationship between civil society and government is a key priority, and the government has a critical role in working with these sectors to ensure that they can play a role as an equal partner in delivering a shared vision of national renewal.
“One way the government is doing this is by working to increase civil society organisations’ delivery of public service contracts.
“In that context, I hope this VCSE Business Hub will be a useful resource for charities and social enterprises looking to increase their involvement in public service contracts and working together to deliver the government’s missions.”
‘Keen to enable a thriving sector’
VCSE crown representative Claire Dove said: “I am keen to enable a thriving sector, through working to bring more charities, public service mutuals, and social enterprises into public sector supply chains.
“I am also working with industry and sector experts to identify and reduce barriers to charities’ and social enterprises’ participation in public service markets.
“To help meet these objectives, we have created the VCSE Business Hub.
“This hub has information for charities and social enterprises on how the government is engaging with the sector at a strategic level.
“For government departments that have published a VCSE action plan, it houses the latest information on their procurement and market engagement with charities and social enterprises.
“It also links to brilliant existing resources for charities and social enterprises from across the government.”
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