Politics

The Chancellor has listened to charities on gift aid reform and social investment, says NCVO chief executive Sir Stuart Etherington, but conditions for charities remain tough.

Reacting to today’s budget, Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said:

We have written a joint letter along with other leading voluntary sector organisations to ask the Chancellor to put in place a set of simple measures to help the sector weather the current financial storm, ahead of his budget statement on 21 March.

The letter reminds the Chancellor of the important contribution voluntary organisations and social enterprises make to the UK economy and our society, and expresses concern that organisations are still being hit disproportionately by the worsening financial climate and the speed and scale of cuts in public expenditure:

Charities have a fundamental right to campaign and to lobby government and parliament. It is a vital part of our democracy.

However we recognise that there is a need to regulate lobbying activity in order to prevent further ambiguity and mistrust in the political system. We think that charities should be subject to the same rules and regulations as those employed for working for multi-client agencies. It is important we do not create a two tier system.

In partnership with ACEVO we have written to the Chancellor George Osborne ahead of his Autumn Statement next Tuesday, urging him to consider a structured youth job creation fund, with a central role to play for the community and voluntary sector. 

Following recent youth employment figures and the announcement that long-term unemployed people will have to do compulsory work placements in the charity sector, we feel that the sector can play a much greater role in creating and sustaining employment as well as providing direct employment. 

We are once again inviting smaller charities to submit applications to our Party Conference Bursary Scheme. 

The scheme, which started in 2007, gives smaller organisations the chance to send a representative to either the Liberal Democrat, Labour or Conservative Party conference.  Participating groups get the chance to put MPs on the spot, attend fringe events and discuss key issues such as the Big Society or the impact of spending cuts on their organisation at a special roundtable discussion.

The government's Big Society agenda will deliver real change in Britain and when it does the media will have a responsibility to report on it, according to our new Chair, veteran broadcaster Martyn Lewis.

Speaking at our Christmas Parliamentary Reception on Tuesday, Martyn was critical of the UK national media for its lack of coverage of the voluntary sector.

Sir Stuart Etherington, our Chief Executive, has today responded to measures set out in the Government’s spending review relating to the voluntary and community sector.  These include the announcement of a new £100 million transitional fund, and additional resources to implement the Big Society agenda.

Prime Minister David Cameron defended his government’s proposed spending cuts during his closing speech to the Conservative Party Conference saying there was "no other responsible way".

A large part of his speech focused on his "Big Society" agenda and he dismissed Labour's claims that it was just a way of imposing spending cuts by making the general public volunteer to do some of the work currently done by the state.

Conservative Nick Hurd has been appointed as the Minister for Civil Society.

The role gives him responsibility for charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations in the Cabinet Office.

Hurd, the 48 year old MP for Ruislip, Nortwood and Pinner, spent eighteen months as shadow charities minister before the general election.

Eton- and Oxford-educated, Hurd is the son of former Conservative minister Douglas Hurd and only joined Parliament in 2005.

After five days of discussions, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have formed a coalition with David Cameron as the new Prime Minister.

David Cameron has been asked by the Queen to form a new government and he has moved into 10 Downing Street.

Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive, National Council for Voluntary Organisations said:

"We have witnessed a significant change in the political landscape.  It is now our responsibility to work effectively with this new coalition government.