Consultation tracker

On 24th November Kevin Brennan, the Minister for the Third Sector, chaired a summit with NCVO on the impact of the economic downturn on the third sector. CTG was involved in this summit. Sector representatives highlighted a number of challenges they were facing in the current economic climate, and more importantly discussed how Government and the sector could work together.

Building on these discussions, the Minister announced plans to publish an Action Plan in the New Year. This represents a real opportunity for the sector and Government to work in partnership to address current and future challenges. It is crucial to involve the sector from the onset in the development of this action plan

The OTS would welcome suggestions from the sector on innovative ways the government could help support the environment for a thriving third sector in the coming months and years, with a particular focus on the 6 key themes raised at the summit:

Meeting demand for public services particularly in deprived areas 

Good quality contracting and commissioning 

Addressing potential income issues through local and national level funding and maximising charitable giving 

Modernisation of the sector to cope with financial pressures. 

Building social capital (volunteering, for example) and tackling worklessness 

Role of social enterprise 

CTG will submit a response to this consultation. If you would like us to include anything specific please email your comments/thoughts to Mathieu Mori (mathieu.mori@centrallobby.com) by Wednesday 17 December. 

You can also send your own contribution directly to the OTS by 31st December 2008 to the following email address: actionplan@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk 

For further information and news updates you can visit the OTS website: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx