Maintaining a partnership with the voluntary sector is “critical” to achieving Labour’s missions, the Prime Minister has said.
In a letter to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations thanking the voluntary sector for working in partnership with the government over the past six months, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Given the scale of the challenges we inherited, dire public finances and crumbling public services, I know this government alone cannot deliver the change this country needs”.
Starmer said he was “greatly encouraged” by the responses to the civil society covenant consultation, which closed at the end of last year, adding that the government would work “quickly” on next steps.
“Keeping this partnership going is critical to achieving our missions,” he said.
The comments reiterate what Starmer said almost exactly a year ago when, as leader of the opposition, he called for the voluntary sector to work with the Labour Party to deliver its plans for a decade of national renewal.
Starmer listed a number of contributions that the voluntary sector has made over the past six months, including civil society and the government’s joint response to civil disorder in August, when racist riots broke out across the country.
He said: “In response to civil disorder, civil society and government came together to understand exactly what was happening on the ground. In 2025, I want us to continue this work on social cohesion.”
Starmer also mentioned the discussions that took place in October about the plans to create a civil society covenant, which he said will “harness the full potential of this partnership” and is due to arrive in the spring.
He added that in October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a new social investment vehicle to “tackle complex social challenges”, the development of which will be led by the Treasury. Starmer said that more details would follow in late spring.
Starmer also mentioned the government’s plans for a co-produced National Youth Strategy, which was announced in November.
Under the plans the National Citizen Service, a £1.5bn programme for young people run by the NCS Trust, will close in the spring, sparking concern about the implications for charities funded by the trust and the wider youth sector.
An initial report on the new National Youth Strategy is expected to be published in the spring, with the full strategy to follow in the summer, Starmer said.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the cash boost of nearly £1bn that was announced in December to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, saying that Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, was continuing to work with the government’s expert group from the homelessness sector and councils.
Starmer said: “I sincerely thank you for all your work so far, and in advance for your continued engagement with my team. There is so much more we can achieve together, and I am very much looking forward to the road ahead.”
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of the NCVO, welcomed the Prime Minister’s recognition of the vital role of civil society in addressing the complex challenges communities face.
“To be able to continue to do that, our sector needs partnership, engagement and support,” she said.
“We are ready to support where we can and to challenge where needed.
“We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the government through the development of the covenant and ensuring the voices of the sector and the people we support remain central to decision-making through our advocacy and campaigns.”