Third sector faces reluctant partners in criminal justice

Research by the Third Sector Research Centre suggests that the role of voluntary organisations in criminal justice may be hampered by resentment from the statutory sector.

 Research points to the many benefits that third sector providers can bring to criminal justice provision. Their ability to develop positive relationships with service users, to engage them in developing services and to build links with the wider community are just some of these.

 TSRC conducted interviews with key players in the criminal justice arena, from both the third and statutory sectors. They found a general consensus for partnership working as the way forward for the third sector. Many saw it as the sector’s best chance to become equal players in criminal justice service provision.

 Yet many interviewees noted that the way government policy had promoted partnership often led to agencies seeing partners as competitors rather than collaborators. The statutory sector particularly resented the threat that voluntary organisations posed to their position. This was seen as especially true of the probation service, where there was almost no evidence of third sector involvement.

 Talking about the probation service, one interviewee told us ‘[…] that there are other organisations out there who can deliver as well, if not better, some of those roles that they deliver. It’s basically a bitter pill to swallow, really, I think.’  [Criminal justice stakeholder] Interviewees called for more clarity from commissioning and implementation strategies.

 Recent developments have promoted the role of the third sector in the criminal justice system. Yet this is one of the most controversial arenas for the sector. Some have questioned whether it is appropriate for third sector organisations to take part in criminal justice services at all, especially the running of prisons or other punishment provisions. Moreover there is debate about the effect of statutory contracts on these organisations – on their objectives or relationships with offenders for example.

 Yet, whilst some worried that encouraging third sector provision will divest the state of its welfare role, others pointed out that change is long-overdue

‘I don’t think that the provision under the current prison and probation service run by the public sector is actually a beacon of excellence.[…] I’m afraid I just don’t think we’re in much danger of being terribly deprived.’ [Third sector stakeholder]

 Whilst third sector organisations face barriers to increased involvement in criminal justice, overcoming these may be a matter of much wider public interest.

Third Sector Research Center, 19/05/2010

Department for Children, Schools and Families Re-Brand

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has been re-branded as the Department for Education (DFE) by the new Education Secretary, Michael Gove.

The department was branded as the DCSF in 2007 as shortly after Gordon Brown became Prime Minister; controlling issues such as child obesity, school sports and youth crime.

It will retain control of children’s services but higher education will remain under the remit of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The new Education Secretary, Michael Gove, informed his staff that he wants the department to focus on ‘its core purpose of supporting teaching and learning’.

Mr Gove said on internal email:

“In the weeks ahead, I want us to offer all schools the chance to enjoy academy-style freedoms so that heads and teachers across the country can be liberated.

“This will be the focus of the legislation we hope to bring forward later this month.”

To visit the new DFE website please click here (opens in new window).

BBC News 14/05/2010

Lloyds TSB Foundation Celebrates £20 Million Investment

The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales has published its annual report revealing it has awarded £20.6 million to disadvantaged communities in 2009.

The Foundation is one of the UK’s largest grant makers and has supported over 900 charities tackling disadvantage in communities during 2009.

The funding has also created over 1,800 jobs and 6,900 volunteering opportunities.

The foundation will continue to receive annual funding from the Lloyds Banking Group of £25.2 million until 2013.

Chief executive Linda Kelly said:

“We’re delighted that we’ve been able to invest so much into helping disadvantaged people across England and Wales. Last year was very difficult for many charities and with the likely cuts in public spending, we are now more than ever committed to continuing our support for charities that carry out vital work in the community.

“Our ongoing relationship with Lloyds Banking Group means that we will be able to continue to provide consistent support to those disadvantaged in our communities in the challenging years ahead.”

Lloyds TSB Foundation, 07/05/2010

Budget 2010 Review – What Does It Mean For Third Sector?

The 2010 Budget from Chancellor Alistair Darling has received a mixed response from the third sector.

Progress on tax relief for charities was welcomed by the community and voluntary sector – Mr Darling revealed there may be a reduction in VAT restrictions on charities sharing back office functions as well as an extension of tax relief on charitable giving between EU countries.

However, there was no further progress announced on Gift Aid, with a report on the scheme being prepared for presentation to ministers in September.

The social finance sector received good news with the promise of a consultation on how banks can support community lenders and the promise that banks will be made to reveal details of what communities they lend to.

CEO of the Community Development Finance Association Bernie Morgan said:

“This could be a major win for people on the lowest incomes, as well as the community development finance institutions (CDFIs) which provide them with financial services when the banks can’t help.

“We have been calling for increased support for CDFIs from banks for many years, most recently through the Better Banking Coalition, and this is potentially a major breakthrough for us.”

The Budget also revealed increased support for the Social Impact Bond (SIB) – a funding initiative based on a contract between the Government and a third sector service provider. Private investment is engaged on the strength of the social outcomes achieved by the project, with the investor repaid by the Government.  The scheme is to be trialled in Leeds with an SIB between DCLG and Leeds City Council.

The confirmation of the much-anticipated £75 million social investment wholesale bank also received a mixed reaction from the sector. The Government has agreed to finance other social investors through the fund, not third sector organisations directly as hoped.

ACEVO leader Stephen Bubb described it as a “bittersweet pill” and said:

“It’s good they’ve announced they’ll put £75 million into this but all the money from dormant bank accounts should have gone into it.”

The Future Jobs Fund (FJF) also received support with the announcement that it will be extended until March 2012. The FJF helps businesses to create job placements in socially useful roles and has been extended on the back of savings made on unemployment benefits.

To view the Budget click here.

Social Enterprise Live 25/03/2010

NCVO Launch European Network for Voluntary Organisations

A fifteen strong network of voluntary sector organisations from across Europe have joined forces with NCVO to create the European Network of National Associations (ENNA).

The ENNA project, spearheaded by NCVO and involving organisations from countries such as Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Portugal and Scotland, will bring together voluntary and community bodies from throughout Europe in order to engage in discussion about the current economic climate.  It is hoped the network will also serve to promote the sharing of best practice on capacity-building for the third sector, develop recession-beating tactics and resources and establish a European Charter, similar to the UK Compact.

Stuart Etherington, CEO of NCVO, commented:

“This is a momentous occasion and I am proud that so many countries are represented and we look forward to more joining. It is a critical time for the voluntary sector across Europe which makes it all the more crucial that we have come together to share experiences and look for ways to deliver far reaching benefits to communities across the Union”.

For further information, visit NCVO: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/.

Source: NCVO, 23/07/09

New Cabinet Committee For Third Sector

A new Cabinet sub-committee to tackle barriers to service delivery has been welcomed by the third sector.

The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) has invited representatives from eight Whitehall departments including the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Communities and Local Government to join forces with an advisory group of third sector representatives to form a new sub-committee.

The committee has been tasked with removing barriers faced by third sector organisations attempting to win central government public service delivery contracts and will carefully scrutinise the procurement procedures of a range of government departments in order to make them more effective and accessible.

The announcement of the sub-committee has been well received by the third sector.  Peter Kyle, deputy chief executive of Acevo, commented that the creation of the advisory body was a “triumph” and suggested it would have “real clout”.  Ben Kernigham, deputy chief executive of NCVO, also welcomed the committee, but urged them to take relevant and decisive action quickly:

“Voluntary sector organisations have already identified the barriers to their involvement in public service delivery.  We now need the committee to tackle these issues and take appropriate action.”

For further information visit the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) website: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx

Source: Cabinet Office

News of the government Hardship Fund announced

Details regarding the £16.7 million Hardship Fund for the Third Sector announced as part of this year’s budget have been released.

The Hardship Fund, an initiative to support the £42.5 million Real Help for Communities action plan for the Third Sector, will provide grants to front-line organisations delivering services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society and those most hard-hit by the recession.

It is anticipated that grants of between £50,000 and £250,000 will be available to organisations that are in financial hardship and that deliver services in the following areas:

• Health and social care.
• Housing support.
• Education and training.
• Information, advice and guidance.

More information about the Hardship Fund’s delivery partner, when the programme will be open to applications and how to apply will be available shortly.

For further information visit: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx

Source:  Office of the Third Sector

New funds for Social Investment Bank?

According to NCVO chief executive, Stuart Etherington, speaking this week at the AGM of social lender, Charity Bank, money repaid to the Futurebuilders England loan fund should be ploughed back into the voluntary and charity sector through the establishment of a social investment bank.

The idea of a social investment bank is not a new topic for the third sector, with the government already previously stating that funding for such a facility would be sourced from the Dormant Bank and Building Societies Accounts Act and targeted towards tackling issues such as youth work and social inclusion.

But the government’s tentative, ‘wait and see’ attitude to this eagerly anticipated initiative, demonstrated by a lack lustre pledge as part of the 2009 budget to carry out a consultation into how the social investment bank might operate if established, has angered third sector members, many of whom believe the bank should be formed as quickly as possible if it is to help those most in need during the current economic climate. 

Etherington claims the sector and the government should look for funding for the bank elsewhere and flagged up the Futurebuilders loan fund as an effective way of making savings and helping third sector organisations without “having to use new money”.  He also called for a substantial £50 million government investment in the bank, in order to attract other sources of capital.

Source: Third Sector

Acevo website to bolster third sector during recession

Chief executive umbrella body, Acevo, have launched a new website that is specifically targeted at helping the third sector weather the current economic storm.

The easy to use site includes recession news, expert guides on everything from mergers to EU funding, information on relevant events and courses and handy links to useful organisations.

Visit today at: http://www.recessionsupport.org.uk/main/

Source: Acevo

Big response for Big Lottery…

The BIG Lottery Fund public consultation, launched in the autumn of 2008 to encourage members of the public and the voluntary sector to have their say on how lottery cash should be spent over the next six years, received a much higher response than was originally anticipated.

It has been estimated that almost 3,500 people from across the UK responded to the consultation and gave their views on what should be done with up to £2 billion of lottery money between now and 2015.

Unsurprisingly in such turbulent economic times, sustainability and the options and opportunities beyond the life of a lottery grant, were this year’s most hotly debated topics.

The consultation findings are currently being analysed and will be published in June.

For further information visit:

Big Lottery Fund:  http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/

Source: Big Lottery Fund