Voluntary sector leaders meet with PM to share ideas on public services

Charity leaders met with the Prime Minister and other senior Government Ministers yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 12 January) to discuss the sector’s role in the transformation of public services.

The meeting gave civil society representatives the chance to share with ministers their experiences of public service delivery, concerns about the impact of cuts, and suggest solutions and ideas for further reform. 

The round table meeting at Number 10 Downing Street was organised in collaboration with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).  Attendees were drawn from NCVO’s Public Service Delivery Network.

Delegates gave the Prime Minister examples where local authorities are cutting inappropriately or disproportionately, and where VAT on shared services is causing problems for the sector.  They also discussed the potential impact that forthcoming changes to NHS commissioning will have on civil society organisations.

The meeting covered the sector’s need for capital, especially in the context of public services which will be contracted on the basis of Payment By Results.  Delegates also raised the importance of commissioning regimes recognising the additional costs of providing services to people with complex needs.

Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive at NCVO, said:

‘This meeting let our members communicate directly to the Prime Minister and other government representatives the challenges and opportunities they face.  The delivery and reform of public services is at the heart of the Big Society vision, so sharing examples of good and bad practice gives a valuable steer on how to ensure the sector is supported to play a full part in this.  We hope that the Government will continue to listen to and act on the sector’s views in the months ahead.’

For more information contact Mandy Murphy in NCVO’s press office on 020 7520 2469 or email mandy.murphy@ncvo-vol.org.uk. For calls outside office hours, please ring 07714 243942.

Notes to editors

Government Delegates:

David Cameron MP, Prime Minister

Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office

Oliver Letwin MP, Minister of State, Cabinet Office

Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society

Greg Clark MP, Minister of State, Department of Communities and Local Government

Sir Gus O’Donnell, Secretary of the Cabinet

Public Service Delivery Network Delegates:

Sir Stuart Etherington, NCVO

Ben Kernighan, NCVO

Paul Ainsworth, Ariel Trust

Stephanie Correia, Southside Rehabilitation

Martin Kinsella, P3

Shane Brennan, Age Concern Kingston upon Thames

Sam Hopley, HCCT and Camden Shares

Andrew Purvis, Fairbridge

Jackie Nunns, Kids City

Jacob Whittingham, SE1 United

Jan Tregelles, Mencap

Benedict Leigh, Restore

Peter McCabe, Headway

Philip Lee, Southampton Voluntary Services

Yvonne Davis, Birmingham CAB

Robert Droy, Southampton Centre for Independent Living

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) www.ncvo-vol.org.uk is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  NCVO has over 8,000 members, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer centres, and development agencies working at a local level. With over 280,000 staff and over 13 million volunteers working for our members, we represent and support almost half the voluntary sector workforce. 

The NCVO Public Service Delivery Network was established in 2006, supported by the Cabinet Office. 

The Network’s 2000 members are drawn from commissioning and provider bodies involved in the reform and delivery of public services.  The Network co-ordinates and shares the skills and knowledge of our national membership under the steer of our Advisory Group and through a number of means including case studies, discussion seminars, consultation and articles.