Tories Unveil Commitment to the Third
Sector
The Conservative Party unveiled their commitment to the third sector on 9
June in their Policy Green paper ‘A Stronger Society: Voluntary Action in the 21st
Century’. The Green Paper highlights the importance of the voluntary sector and
sets out ways to encourage it as a force for social progress. It is designed to
spark consultation with the voluntary sector, which will develop the party’s manifesto
ahead of the next general election.
The Policy Green paper sets out a number of pledges including the top 20 pledges.
Highlighted below are just some of those top 20 pledges that benefit the voluntary
sector:
Public Service Delivery- the approach that will be taken with the
voluntary sector will be a very different one. It sets to end the micromanagement
of voluntary sector providers through contracts, specifying in minute detail not
only what should be supplied, but how they should be managed. It looks to base contracting
on outcomes rather than inputs. It provides a level playing field between the voluntary
sector and private providers, enabling a fair rate of return on the resources they
use and the exposure they take on.
Co-operative Schools- the Conservative party made a commitment
to introducing more co-operative schools in Britain. The idea is based on encouraging
parental involvement further than having a direct say in the way their school is
run. It looks to make parents not just stakeholders, but shareholders by creating
a company not based on profit making, but built around the needs of the local children.
Community Assets- the Conservative party welcome the initiatives
set out in the Governments Quirk Review, which encourages transferring community
buildings and land to voluntary sector management and ownership. They propose to
take this forward and maximise opportunities for co-operative ownership.
Gift Aid- the Conservative party look to make changes to the current
gift aid rules as it is identified that there are many practical difficulties encountered
by charities in their administration of Gift Aid.
Office of Civil Society- would replace the Office of Third Sector.
The ‘Office for Civil Society’ would be at the heart of government to fight for
the interests of charities, social enterprises, co-operatives and community groups.
The Policy Green paper proposes to replace the Big Lottery Fund with a ‘Voluntary
Action Lottery Fund’ dedicated entirely to the voluntary and community sector.
The Policy Green paper features a number of positive suggestions that will benefit
the third sector. The Policy Green paper encourages bottom-up social responsibility.
The paper has had a mixed reaction from the third sector and will no doubt open
dialogue between the third sector and the Conservative party.
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For More Information Contact:
Mark Johnson
The Projects Partnership Limited
53 Great Suffolk Street
London SE1 ODB
t 020 7620 0888
f 020 7620 0778
e info@tpplaw.co.uk
Email:
Mark
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