Last week, charity, civil society, and business leaders gathered in Westminster for the launch of Forces for Good report. This inspiring collection of essays from the Charity Reform Group (CRG), hosted by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK), calls for a fundamental reset in how charities work with government and business.
Matt Downie, CEO of Crisis, kicked off the event. He reminded people of the sheer depth and breadth of insight and expertise in the sector, but exhorted charities to rediscover their boldness of vision when it comes to proposing solutions. He challenged the Government to:
“Be demanding of us but bring us into the shared missions.“
Harriet Oppenheimer, CEO of RNID highlighted how charities can create impact through partnerships. She explained that RNID uses the trust and legitimacy it has built, drawn from the support and experiences of millions of people, to convene sectors to work together:
“RNID [brings] together the aspirations of our communities, tech experts from other fields, practical considerations from the NHS, from academia, industry, everybody, to shine a light on something that will make a difference for millions.“
Angela McConville, CEO of National Childbirth Trust (NCT), made a compelling case for more radical discourse between government and civil society, urging for “open, fearless dialogue” to tackle complex social challenges. Likening the new Government to first-time parents, Angela said:
“It was particularly poignant to write this essay at a time of change, when our Government became first–time parents. At NCT we want all new parents to have all the best information to make the best decisions, and that’s what was on my mind when I wrote my essay.“
Mark Russell, CEO of The Children’s Society celebrated the strength in making change together – with young people, with other charities, with decision-makers – asserting that:
“Charities cannot be the fourth emergency service. We can’t just pick up the pieces of a broken society. Instead, we have years of experience, evidence and innovation, to work with the government, to roll out solutions, to affect real change.”
Susan Daniels of the National Deaf Children’s Society spoke candidly about the complex relationship between charities and government:
“We have to be both simultaneously, an ally and antagonist, a collaborator and a thorn in the side, a cheerleader and a critic.”
She emphasised that while this position might not always be popular, it was essential to the sector’s role.
Benaifer Bhandari, CEO of Hopscotch Women’s Centre, made a compelling case for smaller charities with a deep understanding of the complexities some people face, stating:
“Just because we’re small it doesn’t mean that we’re not ground breaking.”
She warned about the sustainability of smaller organisations, noting:
“If we don’t exist, we’re just going to get the same people around the table talking.”
Stephen Meek, a former civil servant and now Director at the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Policy & Engagement, offered valuable insights into the relationship between government and charities. He highlighted how charities’ ability to challenge or bring fresh insight:
“…however difficult, is really critical for good policy”
And he described current limitations on campaigning as:
“partly a product of a misguided transactional quid pro quo – a sort of ‘you are agent and not partner’ approach.”
Ben Hayman from Given Agency brought a business perspective, noting the increasing interest from companies in meaningful charity partnerships:
“Lots of businesses come to us now saying, how do we also add value to the world? Partnering with charities is so essential for that.”
But he emphasised how essential it is for any potential partners to invest time and effort in understanding and aligning their objectives – to find their shared purpose – if any collaboration is to be more than window dressing.
In the ensuing discussion, audience members raised questions about ensuring the effectiveness of the Civil Society Covenant, the need to keep pressing for repeal or reform of measures that limit people’s ability to make change, how we can ‘bake in’ organisational collaboration rather than depending on one-to-one relationships, and the importance of charities not assuming they have a monopoly on being right (or righteous).
The event concluded with a call for all sectors to work together more effectively. As Mark Russell noted, the charity sector stands ready to be “bold and radical” in calling for “a new chapter where charities can play our part in making society fairer and more equal and more just.”
The full report and essays are now available to download here.