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Public services background

Public service reform means there are growing opportunities for third sector organisations to get involved in improving service delivery.

This can be by:

• Helping design services
• Giving a voice to service users
• Delivering services themselves
• Evaluating services
• Coming up with innovative ideas to improve delivery

The Government is working to achieve a fairer playing field for third sector organisations so they can win the contracts they are best placed to deliver. 

Case study: BREAK

BREAK is a Norfolk based charity who are working in partnership with their local authority to develop key services and fulfil local community needs. 

Services they provide include residential homes for looked after children, holidays and respite for people with special needs and day services for women with mental health problems.

By working with BREAK the local authority meets its obligations to provide services and gains an investment partner that has the knowledge, ability and philosophy to meet identified needs cost effectively.

Reports and publications

Some barriers have been identified to third sector organisations winning contracts in the reports below.  These include administrative burdens and limited access to financial, physical and human capital.

• the Treasury’s cross-cutting reviews on the voluntary and community sector [external website]
• the acevo report on surer funding [external website]
• the National Audit Office’s report on working with the third sector [external website]

The Public Services Action Plan shows the steps Government is taking to overcome these barriers.

• More details of the public service delivery action plan