SMK was in Downing Street on Monday to take part in a round table, led by Prime Minister Kier Starmer, to explore how sectors beyond Whitehall and Westminster can contribute to the Government’s five missions. The invitation came on the heels of the launch of Forces for Good: vision for a new partnership between charities, government and businesses last week – a collection of essays by members of the Charity Reform Group of CEOs, convened by SMK.
Sue Tibballs, SMK CEO, attended on behalf of the Group and was pleased to pass the report and essays directly to the Prime Minister. She also handed a copy to Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Cabinet Office lead on delivering mission-led government. On Monday, he told LBC that Ministers needed to get out of Whitehall. He said, “go to the best head teachers, go to the best police officers, use the best technology, go to innovative mayors – change the way that government runs.”
CRG members welcome a mission-led approach and the invitation for charities and wider civil society to play a central role. They will continue the conversation with the Government and others on how the social sector can best be involved. As noted in the report, this will require changes in understanding, attitudes, and behaviour of all players – charities, government, and businesses – as well as concrete policy and legislative change. A series of recommendations in the report lays out how that can happen.
On the same day, Sue also had a comment piece in The Times [paywall]. For those who don’t subscribe, she argues that it’s high time that charities are seen as agents of change, not only vehicles of relief. Not only can this help charities to work to their potential, but it is also essential for their legitimacy. She quotes from Polly Neate’s essay:
“If charities only work to solve the problems of individuals, we are doomed to fail. And worse, it makes us no more than a cog in a destructive wheel, allowing systems to continue to cause harm.”