Office of Third Sector (OTS) Campaign
Submitted by Ann Blackmore on Tue, 17/11/2009 - 16:24
NCVO is extremely concerned about the impact that the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) decision to withdraw the campaigning fund will have. If your organisation has been affected in any way or if you have any concerns about the decision then please tell us here, and get in touch with our chief executive Stuart Etherington.
- Read Oli Henman's blog: Charities outraged at cut of Campaigning Research Programme
- Sign the petition on the Louder website: Reinstate the Campaigning Research Programme
- Find out what people are saying about it on Twitter
- Our press release: Sector leader publicly condemns government for decision to cut campaigning fund
What do you think?
Has your organisation been affected by this issue?
How should the sector respond?
This so disgracefully New Labour. It is clear that Angela Smith came under huge pressure from Number 10 because of the nature of a few of the groups awarded campaigning grants - "God Help us it looked like the old GLC!" seems to have been the thought. To avoid a few days condemnation in the Sun and the Daily Mail the government is prepared to call the entire compact into question and blow a hole in any semblance of respect for any of the work that has been accomplished in terms of relations between Government and the sector over the last few years. Cameron meanwhile is able to attack Labour from the Left by claiming that under him the compact will become mandatory. This is a further example of New Labour shooting itself in both feet, both hands and then a coup de grace to the head!
A quick update - NCVO has written to both Tessa Jowell and Angela Smith to ask them to meet with us and a delegation of the organisations affected. We are incredibly alarmed that the decision to divert this funding was taken at such a late stage without consultation, after the 32 organisations concerned had received confirmation of their successful bid.
Tom Levitt, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Community and Voluntary Sector, has put down two written questions in order to gain further information about the way in which the decision was taken.
The vociferous Louder campaign has reached over 150 signatures (great work guys!) and the #otscampaign on twitter has resulted in some high profile support from Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Jenny Willott MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
We'll keep you posted!
11 December 2009 - Update
Read NCVO's reaction to Angela Smith's statement on moving forward with the Compact.