Voluntary sector leaders have welcomed Stephanie Peacock’s appointment as the new charities minister, hoping to build a “collaborative partnership” between the government and the voluntary sector.
Peacock, who is the MP for Barnsley South, was appointed as a parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 9 July, but the department confirmed today that she will hold ministerial responsibility for sport, media, civil society and youth.
She will also hold responsibility for the gambling brief in the House of Commons, due to Baroness Twycross being made minister for gambling.
Voluntary sector leaders have welcomed Peacock to the civil society brief, with Sarah Elliott, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, saying that the umbrella body is looking forward to “working closely with her to build a collaborative partnership between government and the voluntary sector”.
Elliott said: “Charities aren’t just a force for good, they’re also a force for change. The new government has set out an ambitious plan for a decade of renewal, and we believe charities and voluntary organisations will be a critical partner for them to achieve their missions.”
She said the infrastructure organisation had already held some “incredibly productive meetings with the new team at DCMS to make sure the needs of charities are heard and that the limitless opportunities for charities to make an impact are understood”.
This includes a meeting with the new culture secretary Lisa Nandy, which Elliot attended last week alongside Jane Ide, chief executive of the charity leaders body Acevo.
Less than three weeks since the election, it was fantastic to start the day with a meeting with new @DCMS SoS @lisanandy and @JaneIdeCEO. Nothing more energising than discussing the endless ways charities can play a vital role in helping government achieve its missions. pic.twitter.com/9hEgxWd8cw
— Sarah Elliott (Vibert) (@sarahvibert82) July 24, 2024
Elliott said: “We look forward to more opportunities to work with Stephanie and the team to unlock the experience and understanding charities have to help solve some of society’s biggest issues.”
Ide said she was delighted to see civil society in Peacock’s brief, saying: “I look forward to working with the minister and her team to develop a constructive and effective relationship between government and civil society to the benefit of all.
“Just three weeks into the new government’s tenure we have seen many encouraging signs that there is a genuine interest and commitment to working in partnership with our sector, and a recognition on the government’s part that we are essential to the delivery of their key missions.”
The NGO umbrella body Bond added its congratulations to Peacock, saying: “We look forward to working with her in her new role to improve government relations with civil society and strengthen the political and operating environment for charities.”
Dan Corry, chief executive of NPC, said the think tank was looking forward to working with Peacock “so we can put civil society at the heart of delivering the new government’s missions”.
He said: “Charities have been providing critical services over what have been challenging years. This opportunity for a renewed partnership between government and civil society is one both sides should take.”
Tessa Godley, policy and advocacy director at the social impact investment body Better Society Capital, welcomed both Peacock and Nandy to their roles, saying: “We stand ready to partner with the DCMS team to realise this opportunity across Whitehall – from channelling new dormant assets funding into community enterprises in areas most in need, to delivering public services more effectively in areas such as homelessness and child poverty.”