A new report has called for greater collaboration between the public, private and social sectors to “fuel” the UK’s recovery and growth.
The final report of the Law Family Commission on Civil Society (LFCCS), chaired by former cabinet secretary Lord Gus O’Donnell and published today, highlights the “crucial role” the charity sector plays in the country’s economy.
The report, which resulted from a two-year commission exploring the potential of civil society in the UK, sets out 26 recommendations to government, businesses and funders to boost collaboration between businesses, policymakers and civil society.
It includes a call for the Treasury to invest £380m in unclaimed Gift Aid into enhancing the productivity of the sector.
The research suggests part of the money could be used to create a new Civil Society Evidence Organisation to improve the availability and spread of evidence across the sector.
The report stresses the need for “deep and genuine partnerships between charities and businesses”, calling on business and charity membership bodies to form a partnership that would facilitate the two sectors coming together.
Strengthening relationships between charities and policymakers is also central to the report, with the commission proposing an annual ‘Chevening’ event for permanent secretaries and sector leaders and more secondments and volunteering opportunities.
The report also calls on funders to consider a “radical shift” from short-term and restrictive funding toward support for core costs and investment in people, processes and organisational development.
O’Donnell said: “Successive governments have neglected charities for too long and our country is worse for it.
“That must change in order to achieve the national renewal and better future that the UK desperately needs, because charities are a key part of the solution to every challenge we face.
“Whether it is making our communities safer, greener, healthier, more prosperous or more equal, charities must be at the decision-making table and operating at their optimum level if we are truly to achieve the change we need.”
He added: “The Law Family Commission on Civil Society is now calling on funders and governments to invest strategically in the productivity of the charity sector, the data available to and about it, and in the changes needed to unlock greater giving.
“There is money available for this, not least in the £380m of Gift Aid which goes unclaimed each year. Alongside this investment, there must be a dramatic acceleration in the partnership between civil society and business and a reset of the relationship between civil society and government.
“With this investment, acceleration and partnership, civil society’s full potential can be unleashed. Without it, the UK simply cannot hope to recover and grow from the economic and social crises of the past decade and more.”
James Timpson, chief executive of Timpson Group and LFCCS commissioner, said: “There are many examples of businesses around the UK that do brilliant work with civil society, whether it be through community outreach programmes, employee-supported volunteering or simply the donation of much-needed funds.
“But there is no doubt that businesses of all shapes and sizes can and should do more.”