On Thursday 17 October, CFG CEO Caron Bradshaw participated in the roundtable discussion with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy alongside other sector leaders. This coincided with the launch of the Civil Society Covenant, a plan to redefine the relationship between charities and the government.
CFG, the UK’s leading membership organisation for charity finance professionals, is proud to support the Civil Society Covenant, which was announced on Thursday 17 October.
The Covenant, a plan to redefine the relationship between civil society and government, was officially launched at an event in Downing Street. There, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, hosted a roundtable discussion and reception with key civil society representatives to mark this significant milestone.
CFG CEO, Caron Bradshaw, participated in the roundtable discussion alongside other sector leaders representing a range of charities and social enterprises from across the UK. CFG is committed to fostering a strong and collaborative relationship between civil society and government.
The Covenant aims to create a new era of partnership based on trust, mutual respect, and collaboration. By harnessing the knowledge, expertise, and reach of voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations, the Covenant seeks to deliver better outcomes for communities across the country.
Key features of the Covenant include:
- Four core principles: Transparency, recognition, participation, and partnership will guide the relationship between civil society and government.
- Enhanced collaboration: The Covenant will foster closer working relationships and facilitate joint decision-making.
- Empowerment of communities: The Covenant will support the involvement of people and communities in decision-making processes.
- Shared goals: The Covenant will focus on tackling complex social and economic challenges together.
The launch event at Downing Street was a momentous occasion that demonstrated the government's intention to working with civil society as an equal partner and it’s recognition that the work our sector does underpins all aspects of society. The presence of representatives from a wide range of organisations, including CFG, underscored the importance of a strong and collaborative relationship.
CFG is excited to play a role in shaping the Civil Society Covenant and looks forward to working with government and other civil society organisations to realise its ambitious goals.
Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer commented on the Covenant, stating: “To fix the foundations of our country we need a fundamental reset of the relationship between government and civil society. That is why we’re building a new partnership with the sector to tackle the complex social and economic challenges we face as a country.
By harnessing the dynamism, innovation and trusted reach of civil society organisations, we can boost growth and deliver better outcomes for communities right across the country”.
Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy added: “The Covenant paves the way for a new era in the relationship between government and civil society — one that recognises the critical role the sector plays as a trusted partner in achieving shared goals for the benefit of communities across the UK.
Voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises all understand the challenges being faced every day in our villages, towns and cities and the government wants to work hand-in-hand with them to help fix them — changing lives for the better.”
Charities from across the sector have also remarked on the new Covenant, with Refugee Council CEO, Enver Solomon commenting: “It is very encouraging to have a government firmly committed to reaching a new deal on how it works with the voluntary sector as it responds to the huge challenges society and public services face.
Charities bring years of invaluable frontline experience, service innovation and an independent perspective that can make government policy and delivery stronger and grounded in the reality of people’s lived experience.”
Meanwhile, National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) CEO, Maddy Desforges stated: “We welcome Government’s explicit recognition of the VCSE’s role in tackling complex and deep rooted societal problems. Local VCSE support organisations form critical connections between the VCSE and statutory partners and capture communities’ unique knowledge and problem solving insights.”
CFG is committed to working with its members and the wider civil society sector to ensure that the Civil Society Covenant delivers on its promise to create a stronger, more collaborative, and more effective relationship between government and civil society.
By participating in this consultation, you can play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Civil Society Covenant. Your feedback will help ensure that this initiative becomes a meaningful and effective tool for strengthening the relationship between civil society and government. More details about the consultation are available in this article.
Caron Bradshaw, CFG CEO said: "Great charity finance is at the heart of an effective sector, so I was really pleased to be part of the discussion with the Secretary of State, which demonstrated her desire and commitment to understand how the relationship between government and the sector needs to change. This initiative represents a crucial step forward in recognising and valuing the vital role that civil society plays in our communities."
Clare Mills, CFG Deputy CEO and Director of Policy and Communications said: "CFG wholeheartedly welcomes the Civil Society Covenant. This plan has the potential to transform the way government and civil society organisations work together to address societal challenges.
"By establishing clear principles and fostering collaboration, the Covenant will empower us to deliver more effective and equitable outcomes for our communities. We look forward to playing an active role in its implementation and ensuring its success."
For more information about the Civil Society Covenant, please visit: The Civil Society Covenant | NCVO