New Third Sector Minister appointed

The former parliamentary private sectary to Gordon Brown, Angela Evans Smith, has been announced as the new Minister for the Third Sector in the latest cabinet reshuffle.

Smith, MP for Basildon and former member of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), will replace previous minister, Kevin Brennan, who is set to join the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, headed by Peter Mandelson.

A prominent and active supporter of charities, Smith is a patron of a number of organisations, including the Captive Animals Protection Society, the Burned Children’s Club and Basildon Women’s Refuge, and cites a range of causes including animal welfare, child protection, employment, youth issues and employment as key personal interests.

Pledging to continue to promote and recognise the “vital role” of the Third Sector in today’s society, Smith said:

“As a Government we need to ensure that the right advice, support and financing is available […].  I will drive forward the Government’s support for a thriving third sector and champion the innovative and dedicated work of those of you who serve in the sector.”

Third Sector members have warmly welcomed Smith’s appointment, with Acevo chief executive, Stephen Bubb, claiming it marked a “promotion for the sector”. 

Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, was also replaced last week following her resignation from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).  She will be succeeded by the former secretary of state for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham.

Source: Cabinet Office

£42 million support package for Third Sector announced

The Government yesterday launched a £42 million funding initiative to boost the Third Sector during the economic downturn.

 

The funding package, part of an action plan for the Third Sector developed by Minister Liam Byrne, is designed to specifically target volunteers, charities and social enterprises.

 

It is hoped the funding support will encourage charities and local voluntary and community groups to continue to do what they do best, despite the recession – offer advice, support and volunteer services in hard-hit areas across the country.

 

In particular, third sector organisations providing employment advice and mental health and family support services in deprived areas throughout England and Wales will benefit from cash injections.  Similarly, social enterprises will receive funds in order to find new, more equitable ways of working and doing business.

 

Proposed initiatives as part of the funding support include:

 

• A £15.5 million Community Resilience Fund for local organisations providing services in the most deprived communities in the country.
• A £0.5 million boost for the School of Social Entrepreneurs.
• A £10 million investment in a volunteer brokerage scheme for unemployed people to allow them to gain skills and experience through community-based work.

Speaking about the proposed initiative, Minister for the Third Sector, Kevin Brennan, pointed to the skills and expertise of the sector in helping people work through challenge and change as the reason for such a substantial investment and vowed to help the Third Sector “get stronger now and in the future”, despite the current economic climate.

 

 

 

To download a copy of the action plan and for further information visit:

 

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/real_help_for_communities.aspx

 

 Source: Cabinet Office

New figures help government push to establish longer term funding for Third Sector

This month, Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector, has announced some figures which will serve as a baseline for progress on making multi-year funding for Third Sector organisations the norm.

 

According to a cross-department survey, the mean average for direct government grants that are available to voluntary and community organisations for three years or more, is 66%.  This figure will now be used as a benchmark to assess how effectively the government’s push to establish longer term funding over the next few years actually is.

 

Making funding for three years or more the norm rather than the exception is good news for the sector as the added security it offers will ensure voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises become more sustainable, more innovative and more cost effective.

 

For further information visit:

 

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx

 

Source: Cabinet Office

Brennan’s challenge to Third Sector

Last week saw Third Sector Minister, Kevin Brennan, issue a challenge to the Third Sector.

 

Speaking about public services, Brennan called for the Third Sector to lead the way in this area in order to ensure excellence and fairness and bring communities closer together.

 

This announcement accompanies the release of a series of documents detailing how the government intends to work more effectively in partnership with charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises, in order to make the UK’s public services truly fit for 21^st century challenges.

 

So, are these proposals a good thing for the sector? Undoubtedly, more opportunity to strengthen communities and become involved with the development of vital services is a good thing for Third Sector groups.  But is there the possibility that by committing themselves to public services contracts, charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises could become agents of the state – possibly neglecting their own specialist areas for the sake of securing a lucrative contract? 

 

For further information about the documents released and the Third Sector’s developing public services role, visit:

 

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_releases/081211_challenges.aspx

 

Source: Cabinet Office

Third Sector bodies keep losses secret

Following their meeting with third sector minister Kevin Brennan this week, chief executives from umbrella bodies NCVO, Acevo, the Charity Finance Director’s Group and the Charities Aid Foundation have announced they will not make public the figures they have gathered in relation to the amount of charity money lost in the Icelandic bank collapse.

 

Ralph Michell, Acevo’s policy advocate, yesterday commented that the meeting with Government had been “constructive” and revealed it is hoped that the third sector minister will, “come back with an answer in the near future”.

 

Source: Third Sector

Third sector representatives present survey findings

This week will see a number of third sector representatives present survey findings to the third sector minister, Kevin Brennan and the Treasury minister, Paul Myners.

 

Leaders from the NCVO, Acevo, the Charity Finance Director’s Group and the Charities Aid Foundation will present figures outlining how much charities have lost, and still stand to loose, in the Icelandic bank collapse.

 

It is hoped the results, gathered from an anonymous survey carried out throughout October to assess the scale of the sector’s losses, will ensure that charities are afforded the same protection as local authorities and individuals and won’t lose out as a result of the struggling economy.

 

Source: Acevo