Civil Society Wishes for...

On my wish list: firstly, the sector needs to look forward and

plan for the long-term and also build corporate partnerships

(like SSE Fellow Sheenagh Day whose goods

can be bought in the high street. The sector needs to be both on

a firm (financial) footing, and build credibility through impact

measurement, as demonstrated by these. As the links

demonstrate, we need to

do business with, and buy from, each other in tougher times.

And continue to underpromise and overdeliver.

Alastair Wilson | School for Social Entrepreneurs

3SC wishes to see more collaborative

approaches to working, through the

mechanisms of policy, the commissioning

process and by opportunities created by

all organisations, irrespective of size or

income. The benefits of a collaborative

approach: shared knowledge, integrated

services, scalability and cost-reduction

build both the capacity and capability of

the civil society sector to enable it to

provide effective and efficient contractors

of choice for the delivery of today’s

public services.

Michael O’Toole | 3SC

Local Partnerships would like to see good enablers

for the Right to Provide, building on the lessons

learned from Right to Request. Both policies are

allowing public sector staff to spin-out and establish

their own organisations but this cannot be done

without the right support!

Julie McEver | Local Partnerships

A multi million pound endowment fund from the Exchequer (which could be

topped up from the lottery), for a massive extension of youth volunteering at a

time when young people are facing the biggest hit in respect of jobs,

maintenance allowances, student loans and the demolition of youth services.

This would build on the volunteering experiences at 16 which is currently

government policy, and would bring alive both personal experience and

confidence building with a contribution to saving the fabric

of neighbourhoods and communities.

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP

We hope people will continue

to generously support the vital

work we do with survivors of

brain and spinal injury in

whatever way (or costume!)

they choose.

BASIC | Brain And Spinal Injury Centre

For a few commissioners

to take the plunge with

the sector and give it the

chance to deliver at an

unprecedented scale.

Jonathan Lewis | The Social Investment Business

Council chiefs suddenly realise the best approach to

making cuts is funding the sector better to deliver

citizen focused and community driven public

services.

Sir Stephen Bubb | ACEVO

Real progress in establishing easily accessible social investment funds, particularly in deprived areas.

Payment by results systems to be designed so that small and medium sized organisations can win niche business.

Education ministers to realise how important schools can be to building and maintaining local social capital and

starting to talk positively about school/community engagement.

A national strategy (led by NESTA?) to explore how UK social enterprise can break into

international public service markets.

Restoring EMAs and making civic engagement part of the core curriculum for 16-18 year olds.

Matthew Taylor | RSA

I wish that this Government will hold its nerve and work

with the social sector, instead of meddling in it, as the

last one did. The Big Society Bank will be the litmus

test of its capacity for consistency and competence.

Rodney Schwartz | ClearlySo

In 2011 Jets Foundation’s New Year’s wish

is to have increasing opportunities to

contract with local and national government

for the effective delivery of community

programmes. Programmes that given the

right backing can make a real difference

to the lives of people living in our local

communities. We hope that during the New

Year, Jets foundation together with the 3rd

sector become the lead and inspiration for

the Big Society agenda.

Jets Foundation

The active empowering of

civil society organisations.

To be recognised at government level.

Effective collaboration of civil society

organisations and public sector to

dovetail service delivery effectively.

Sit ‘N’ ‘B’ Fit

As a leader of a small voluntary and

community organisation I believe there

is no better opportunity for the sector to

play a crucial role in the Government’s

vision of the Big Society in 2011, this

will leave a legacy for our communities.

Henry Ngawoofah | Grace Incorporation Faith Trust (GIFT)

Contributors

Alastair WilsonSchool for Social Entrepreneurswww.sse.org.uk

Sir Stephen BubbACEVOwww.acevo.org.uk

Rt Hon David Blunkett MPdavidblunkett.typepad.com

Jets Foundationwww.jetsbasketball.co.uk

Julie McEverLocal Partnershipswww.localpartnerships.org.uk

Jonathan LewisThe Social Investment Businesswww.thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org

Henry NgawoofahGrace Incorporation Faith Trust (GIFT) www.giftacademy.co.uk

Rodney SchwartzClearlySowww.clearlyso.com

BASIC(Brain And Spinal Injury Centre)www.basiccharity.org.uk

Matthew TaylorRSAwww.thersa.org

Michael O’Toole3SCwww.3sc.org

Sit ‘N’ ‘B’ Fitwww.sitnbfit.co.uk