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Minister calls on the third sector to speak out 

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, today called on charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises to give their views on the Draft Legislative Programme (DLP). In a speech to the National Council for Voluntary Organisation’s (NCVO) Sustainable Funding Projects Annual Gathering, the Minister stressed the importance that the Government places on the Third Sector’s response to the DLP consultation which includes proposals for 18 new Bills.

The Minister also re-affirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting a thriving third sector. He pointed to initiatives like the £300million Gift-Aid transition fund to prevent charities loosing income from the cut in the basic rate of income tax and the £130million Grassroots Grants to provide small grants to directly to local community groups as ways that the Government is supporting sustainable funding.

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, said:

“Third sector groups often give voice to the people who are most marginalised. It’s really important that the sector represents these views in the DLP consultation. The proposed legislation will help improve public services from healthcare to education and empower more people to take part in local democracy and engage in community activity like preserving our heritage.

“The Government wants the third sector to play a strong and active role in our society and recognises that sustainable funding is integral to this. The public sector needs to become a better partner to the third sector. I am working to ensure that long-term sustainable funding through a mix of grants and contracts becomes the norm."

Stuart Etherington, CEO of NCVO said:

“NCVO’s vision is of a fair and open civil society that encourages and is supported by, voluntary action and ‘funding in the round'.

“The Sustainable Funding Project Gathering 2008 is driving that vision by helping voluntary and community organisations to become more financially sustainable.

“We are encouraging the third sector to think that grants and donations are not the only available option. We want the sector to become self-supporting long-term by exploring a range of funding options from a diverse income mix."

 You can read the DLP and comment on the proposals via the links below:

• Draft Legislative Programme [External website]
• Make Your Voice heard, comment on the Draft Legislative Programme [External website]
• What's going on in your region [External website]