Consultation on voluntary sector infrastructure

A consultation document that asks charities and social enterprises how they would like to be supported was published by the Office of Civil Society (OCS) in mid-October.
In the document, Supporting a Stronger Civil Society, the OCS indicates that it hopes to invest in a new infrastructure programme for the voluntary sector. It says improving infrastructure could involve making better use of online support, encouraging better connections between small charities and mentors from businesses or larger charities, rationalising existing infrastructure bodies and directing support to front-line organisations.
"In the past, the Government’s approach to building the capacity and skills of civil society focused on a limited range of providers, primarily charities and social enterprises such as local councils for voluntary service," the consultation document says. "The current Government wants to encourage better connections both among civil society organisations and with the public and private sectors."
According to Kevin Curley, chief executive of the local infrastructure umbrella group NAVCA, many CVSs could merge if the plans go ahead. He said many local infrastructure groups wanted to restructure, either by merger or other forms of collaboration.
"There has been a steady trickle of councils for voluntary service merging," said Curley. "We think that will be accelerated by this fund. Where that produces economies of scale and efficiencies without reducing local access to services, it is of benefit."
A strategy document outlining the Government’s approach to the voluntary sector, published alongside the consultation document, says that the Government will set out detailed plans early next year that will make it easier for charities and social enterprises to deliver public services.
Building a Stronger Civil Society refers to proposals already mooted such as modernising commissioning, supporting employee-owned co-operatives, the right to bid to run community assets, reforming gift aid, launching the Big Society Bank, cutting red tape, training 5,000 community organisers, creating National Citizen Service, and starting a Community First fund.
It promises that these reforms will “radically recast” the relationship between the state and the sector over the coming years, and create “huge opportunities” for charities, voluntary and community groups, and social enterprises.
The consultation on the infrastructure proposals closes in January.