Climate change and the Financial Crisis at CHOGM. But does the Commonwealth matter?

A day in the People's Forum Assembly on the financial crisis. Debates raging between the smash the wicked capitalist system and more moderate partnership folk. But it's fascinating to hear the stories of how this global recession has affected all parts of the Commonwealth and how much people are clear on the need for reform.

The other issue that is really grabbing attention is climate change; with all the signs that Copenhagen will fail the test of decisive action. Deeply irritating to hear a news report on BBC World from the Foreign Minister of Sudan arguing that developing countries should try and "bury Copenhagen". I'm glad to say no one makes those noises here. We are all in it together as I think someone in the UK likes to say! Many Caribbean countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels and they want action on climate change and a reduction in carbon emissions. And there is an obvious link between the need for socially responsible finance and business and sustainability.

Group work session

I get called out of the Assembly to do a local TV station interview on the crisis and the idea for a Commonwealth Social Investment Bank. I argue how loan finance is needed to help development. I realised I had inadvertently failed to put on a tie so rushed off to remedy this before the interview. Standards to be maintained even in the heat! And I don't want to be mistaken for my Deputy who has been known to appear full frontal media wise dishabille. It was a full on Bubb performance and all I can say is well done to the interviewer for managing some questions. You can also see me on the Commonwealth website. But that's not obligatory!

The Commonwealth Secretariat are developing a new partnership platform "CP3 " to link organisations and people around the Commonwealth and encourage mutual learning and development.

Always interesting to read local media. Main story recently was on the swine flu vaccine. They are starting a programme nationwide but the priority categories start with MPs and members of the judiciary. Imagine the outcry if that happened in the UK!

And back home it's good to see the stories in The Times today and The Guardian yesterday on the Burnham u turn on making the NHS the "preferred supplier". Click here to read it.

This is a direct contradiction of the Government's Manifesto pledge which said the third sector will be treated on equal terms. I make this point in The Times piece. And my Deputy and three other sector leaders (Jeremy Swain, Simon Blake and Stephen Burke) have written to Burnham asking him to rethink - reported in The Guardian.

This is a serious matter. We cannot afford to see the NHS turning its back on more cost effective and patient centred approaches to provision of health care. When spending is tight the NHS should be in active discussion with the third sector on how we can expand our role. End of life care, long term conditions like diabetes type 2 or dementia are areas where we can give a better citizen focused service. We have to move resources into prevention. And what matters is the quality of care not who provides it. To favour state provision over third sector is simply doing a disservice to patients and to communities. A backward step but ACEVO is working hard, previously much behind the scenes, to promote our case and ensure that the new Commissioning guidelines being written now reflect the role the sector can play.

Many members work in health and social care, whether as direct providers, as volunteers or as advocacy organisations. There is deep concern at how this may affect our ability to provide better services, and indeed expand to provide more innovative ways to treat or prevent ill health.

When William Beveridge wrote his famous '43 report which pre figured the setting up of the NHS he wrote we must not crowd out voluntary action. We have a growing role to play. It should be welcomed. A patient centred approach requires the active involvement of citizens, of patients and of our communities. Caving in to union pressure to put jobs above patients does no one any favours.

Any way! Back to Trinidad: the evening rounds off with a reception by The Royal Commonwealth Society who have been undertaking a major survey of attitudes to the Commonwealth and are releasing a report today on "Common What?". It contains the emerging findings of a Commonwealth wide study on people's attitiudes to "The Commonwealth". Click on this link for their website.

It makes disturbing reading. As it says, "this conversation has unearthed an association that seems to be loved by too few, too often for the wrong reasons. Policy makers have asked what role the association has in today's world......members of the public are largely unaware of what the Commonwealth is or does. "

Disturbing findings. But they ring a bell. Once The Commonwealth seemed to carry clout. Does it now? And yet this is the biggest gathering of world leaders before Copenhagen. It could carry a great clout as a grouping of developed and developing nations. It could have a voice for change. Will it?

Civil society talks ,Marcus Garvey and hard times ahead...

I have discovered the timing thing here. Being English I turned up well in time for the Opening ceremonies - supposedly at 6 pm. In fact in my seat by 5.30. Mistake. Got started at 6.30. So Monday a late breakfast and I turned up for the opening session at 9.30 though it was supposed to begin at 9am. Spot on!!

And that gave me time to wash out shirts. I have some splendid Brookes Brothers non iron, Oxford cotton ones, which I recommend to any well travelled third sector CEO. Saves on those appalling laundry charges you get in hotels and keeps luggage weight down. So there you go; a handy tip for the CEO ! I should do a book!

The Chair of the CS committee, Phiroshaw Camay (who runs the co-Operative for Research and Education in South Africa) made a strong statement about the role of civil society but warned that we have to have good governance ourselves. No good us railing against corrupt Governments if we have dodgy governance ourselves. Right on. It is a message we need to understand better in our own sector in the UK.

I also liked the quote from Marcus Garvey, a local hero, who said , "If you have no self confidence, you are twice defeated in the battle of life! "

It was good to hear the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth using the term "third sector". He used the analogy of the three legged stool; the private and public sectors and the third sector. You need all three legs for the stool to work. And each leg has to be the same size! So the next time I hear David Cameron trotting out his trite remarks about how he doesn't like the term third sector because it implies we come third behind the other two I shall use this story!

I am helping facilitate the Assembly on the Financial and Economic crisis. The majority of Commonwealth countries are experiencing negative growth and bearing the brunt of the recession in ways which much more seriously affect people than in more developed countries. And these are also countries adversely affected by climate change.

I talked about the work of our Social Investment business and ideas behind establishing a Social Investment Bank and we had an interesting discussion on the scope for some form of Commonwealth Bank! It was interesting that there was a lot of interest in how to use loans to expand NGO work.

One of the delegates from Barbados was strongly supporting the idea. She said they have been trying to get loans from their banking sector to support youth work, but with no joy so they need a social investment bank!

The world is getting more difficult for NGOs. The UK has a proud history of NGO work. Big national charities working internationally. Efficient and with proven track records of success in tackling world poverty and sustainability.

Christian Aid, led by the towering figure of Daleep Mukarjee (ACEVO member), is one of the world's most important anti-poverty campaign body. It is a charity I have supported myself over 30 years. It is set to cut 20% of its UK workforce as part of urgent cost savings prompted by a sharp downturn in donations and the fall in the value of sterling. It will axe up to 90 staff, they employ 800 worldwide with 450 in the UK.

Christian Aid's core funding – from donations and corporate sponsorship, has fallen from a projected £63.8m to £57m. It has been hurt by the depreciation of sterling, which makes buying equipment overseas more expensive.

We know they are not alone in suffering from the recession. Oxfam and CAFOD are also looking at their cost bases. Most ACEVO members, whether in NGOs or working in the UK are bracing themselves for swingeing cuts in state funding whilst the recession continues. 2010 is going to be a tough year for us. although ever an optimist, I do not think we can relax. As I said at our conference, we face a biblical "7 years of famine".

But as Daleep said: "Like other charities, we are ... making every effort to adjust our budgets and prepare for the future. Christian Aid will emerge from the recession stronger ... and will continue to make a significant contribution to ending poverty and social injustice."

That's exactly the message we should be giving. And looking for the opportunities - for example from continuing Public Service reform and from innovation.

But the final point must be that we need reform of Gift Aid. In the light of evidence of problems on giving it is incumbent on Government to ensure that Gift Aid works fully and effectively. We lose millions as a result of unclaimed gift aid and unnecessary bureaucracy. We must demand that Alistair Darling announces changes in the PBR statement on December 9th. Angela, I'm relying on you!

The Commonwealth

For some years I have been a member of the Commonwealth's Civil Society Committee and so I am now out in Trinidad for the CHOGM (as those in those circles call it) otherwise known as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. At each CHOGM thay have a rather grandly named "People's Forum" which brings together civil society organisations from around the 53 countries of the Commonwealth for seminars, assemblies and discussions; so some 700 people are here. The new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth said civil society is "stitched into the fabric".

I can't say its a great hardship being away from the rains and cold and shan't irritate you with telling you how hot it is, or describing the fun and vibrant place that the Port of Spain is! Mind you there are plenty of umbrellas here - but not for protection from the rain!

Last night saw the opening of " the People's Space" on the Queen's Savannah - the large and glorious expanse that occupies the centre of the capital. Anyone who's a fan of the Notting Hill Carnival will imagine the sound of the steel bands as they played in the very home of the steel band. I was lucky enough to come here 30 years ago for Carnival and it is great to be back. But enough, before you start to think I'm enjoying myself!

Arrived at the weekend for various Committee meetings but the great thing about the Commonwealth is that alone amongst all the international bodies this one does not have to trouble itself with translators. We all speak the mother tongue - that will no doubt annoy Sarkozy who is turning up for CHOGM, though goodness knows why. Cheeky really when France still has Colonies in the Caribbean who are not independent yet! And the President of Brazil, UN Secretary General and PM of Denmark will join the Party. Speaking English naturally.

The Commonwealth Foundation (their great CEO, Mark Collins, is an ACEVO member) plays a big role in developing and supporting NGOs and civil society as well as working with member Governments to promote civil society. That is not without its tensions. There will be debate here on the role of Sri Lanka in repressing Tamil civil society and in the abuse of human rights by many Commonwealth Governments who have repressive anti-homosexual laws. Indeed there may be a bust up with Uganda, which is proposing new laws which involve the death penalty and even jail sentneces for those men found touching other men in "a gay way". Imagine such a law in the UK. The gaols would be full to bursting! I and others hope to ensure this matter is brought up strongly at the meeting we have with Foreign Ministers.

Worth also mentioning the work of the Royal Commonwealth Society (The Director is Dr Dhananjayan - Danny- Sriskandarajah, who is an ACEVO member). They have a superb building in Whitehall with good restaurant which you can use if you are a member of the Society, as I am. Members of ACEVO can join at a reduced annual membership fee of £130 (usually £230 - £280) and the The Royal Commonwealth Society will waive the joining fee of £200.

And however quaint people might think The Commonwealth is, let's reflect on the absurdity of the EU. All that fuss about the Treaty of Lisbon and we end up with Rumpy and Ashton. International mega stars not. Names to conjure with hardly. The EU has done itself huge damage by completely ignoring the need for popular mandates and doing an old fashioned stick up. Cathy Ashton is a fine individual. But she has never been elected to any position at all.

Still I guess for those of us who look to Quango Chair roles perhaps a brighter future beckons? After all I have great knowledge of both European and international affairs ........

But unless Europe gets to understand it is more than just the institutions and the bureaucracy it will never win people's support. One of the basic themes of Euclid's work is to carve out a stronger role for the third sector. The EU could learn from the Commonwealth - they should have a strong civil society presence in decision making. They should have a "People's Forum". They should aim to win support, not through bureaucracy and institutions, but through expanding and growing Europe's civil society and third sector.

If we were stronger as a third sector in Europe we might be able to put a stop to the obscenity in a continent that is supposed to value democracy of an old fashioned smoke filled room deal done by a bunch of politicians and bureaucrats. We should not personalise this by attacking Belgians or Baronesses, but the reality is that these individuals have no mandate to speak on anyone's behalf and yet they now occupy key international roles.

But back to CHOGM - the morning started early as I went to the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity for the 8.00 am Mass. The Church was founded in 1823 in the glory days of the expansion of the Anglican church throughout the Colonies. And Anglicans are still a strong force here, and throughout the Commonwealth.

The President of Trinidad and Tobago

A meeting of the CS committee and then the formal grand opening of the People's Forum" Partnering for a more equitable and sustainable future". As well as the formal bits with Prime Ministers and officials there was a "cultural presentation" by the artists coalition of Trinidad and Tobago.

But now it's the reception so blogging over and that enticing rum punch is craving my attention.........

Governance; getting our act together?

We are helping to organise a meeting of people interested in reforming charity regulation and governance in York next month. (Thursday, 10 December between 10.30 and 12.00)

The meeting is part of the project by Kevin Carey, Chairman of the RNIB, to set up a Progressive Governance Association.

Carey gave a speech at our Annual Conference earlier this month in which he called for charities to be allowed to pay their Trustees and for Executives to be permitted to sit on Boards.

Giving Trustees higher status in an organisation than Executives encouraged charities to prioritise strategy over implementation is Carey's message.

"You can't do implementation without strategy, but the most important thing for any organisation is implementation," he told TS magazine.

Carey believes that charity regulation should focus on improving performance rather than legal compliance.

"Most people don't have problems with fraudulent fundraisers or bent accountants, which is what the Charity Commission is most worried about."

"The biggest failing of the sector is that we are all underperforming. The sector is good at being critical, but not about the right things."

Carey said he had not thought about the sanctions a new Regulator should have, but he doubted the need for any. He said he hadn't made his mind up about who should decide on charitable status. But Company Law should be sufficient to police charity accounts.

That should be a lively meeting. If you are a Chair of Trustees do go. Contact Andrew Fellowes, Policy Officer at ACEVO North (andrew.fellowes@acevo.org.uk) for more details on how to attend.

And it is sad to report on the death of Winifred Tumim at 73, a stalwart of the sector and a keen advocate of governance reform and a more professional sector in her time Chairing RNID and NCVO.

In 1992 the Charity Commission and NCVO set up a working group under Winifred to look at the role of Trustees. In the Obituaries it reports she had said her concern was a sector run by people afflicted with "mad Chair disease". The Group concluded that two thirds of Trustees had no idea of their duties and liabilities.

She had a great deal to do with arguing for the reform of Charity Law.

Perhaps Kevin Carey is now taking the need for a radical agenda forward in the 21st Century, albeit in ways Winifred may not have recognised. It is clear that the need for reform remains , whatever advances have been made since the days of Winifred in her prime. There Is always a need for a radical voice, especially when much of the sector establishment seems to be complacent of the need for change.

"Giving what you can"

Great story of a new charity in Oxford set up to encourage more people to give more. The founder, an academic, has promised to give 50% of his salary. That is impressive.
I was pleased to get a comment on the Blog from Martin Brookes of NPC who challenged the claim by Liam Byrne that giving is" up dramatically".

It has recovered from the doldrums of the late 1990s, but it is low as a share of GDP or household income, has not risen over a longer period on these measures, and fewer people are giving. We may not be far away from less than half the population donating to charities. As Martin says " I am not sure that is such a healthy situation as Liam Byrne suggests."

The response I got from Liam's office is that the data point they had was average household giving was up from £1.50 to £2.50 though I think 08/9 a down year.

This is no academic debate. We do not yet know how the current recession will affect giving and donations. John Low of CAF has warned that there are problems ahead. We may well see a fall in giving next year. And this will occur at a time when cuts in public spending hit grants.

That is why charities are looking to the Chancellor to come up with reforms of Gift Aid in the PBR announcements expected December 9th.

But we also need to continue to encourage giving by citizens. I always liked the idea promoted by Greg Clark when he was third Sector oppo to Ed Miliband that we need to encourage a giving norm in society. Francis Maude MP talked of encouraging the return of the tithe tradition. But this needs to be underpinned by a better gift aid scheme.

I was pleased that David Blunkett MP responded to our briefing at our recent dinner and took this up with the Chancellor.

We will watch the Chancellor carefully. We have been led a merry dance on this so far!

BLOGS to watch!!

The marvellous Seb Elsworth has started blogging. You can access them here.

And the great Allison Ogden Newton also brings you tales from the social enterprise world. Click here to read it.

Reforming the banks. Building a better financial future.

It does indeed look like the Government will now intervene to stop bankers and financial institutions from abusing the people's trust. We shall see! Nice to see Angela Knight from the British Bankers' Association trotting out the old line about if we tax etc these wonderful people too much they will flee our shores- oblivious to the fact that many of us are thinking what a shame these very people did not indeed flee our shores so much earlier and prevent the plunge to disaster. Perhaps just a little hint of regret? Acknowledgement of failure? Learning from mistakes? Clearly not. Like the Bourbons in France. They "regret rien".

In the meantime I am delighted to plug a new report from the New Economics Foundation "Banking reform or bust – towards a new ecology of finance".

It argues that only radical reform of the UK banking and financial sector can deliver institutions capable of investing and lending that is economically and socially productive. They have produced an alternative white paper on banking reform in anticipation of the Treasury’s follow-up White Paper on banking, expected this month.

Rather than seeking a technical fix for our sick financial sector Government should be having a philosophical rethink. A return to business as usual would prevent the Government’s own stated ambitions of a more competitive and diverse sector from being realised. So we need to reform the entire banking and financial sector according to what the proper function of finance should be. No longer wedded to short-term and profit-driven models of lending and to risky, volatile speculative investment, the banking sector would, instead, form a highly diverse ‘ecology’ of institutions that range in structure, market sector and scale; adapted to the complexity and shared long-term goals of the economy.

Reforms to rein in the excesses of the financial system must be combined with positive measures to harness the potential of both mainstream and alternative financial institutions.

Recommendations include:

· Separating retail from other banking and preventing deposit-taking banks from engaging in other, risky activities

· Setting up a social investment bank

· Regulating financial institutions according to their functions and how risky their activities: the bigger the bank the higher the capital requirements

· Reforms to encourage more mutuals, co-ops and community finance

· Legislation to force banks to be open about their lending and to lend to the financially excluded.

The report is available to download from their website click here.

I'm sure this is required reading by my friends in the British Bankers' Association. Time for change.

I would like to see the Government going further. The Queen's Speech is a good start but we need to ensure feet remain firmly held to the fire. And we need the Government to be radical in their reforms.

Personalising our public services. Listening to Members.

The launch of the interim report of the ACEVO Commission on Personalisation yesterday. Chaired with brilliance by Matthew Pike and with members drawn form across the third sector, with commissioners and users. It is well worth reading. Click here to download a copy.

As a sector we welcome a bigger role for the users of public services. This is about a transfer of power from the state to the user and to the citizen. There are three strong reasons for this reform:

1. its our right as citizens
2. its a more efficient way to deliver services and
3. its a way to improve outcomes for people-i.e. better health by being in control.

Paul Jenkins, of Rethink, spoke of how important it has been for people with mental health illness to have power over the way they are treated, to move from a "poverty of aspiration" to achievement. .

And our sector role here is both in the provision of personalised services, in campaigning for a fully funded and regulated service, and in providing advice and support for people under a personalised regime.

It is a challenging agenda. Instead of having one contract with a local council there may be 2000 contracts with each individual user. And they will need to be persuaded to buy their service from us. As opposed to other private or public providers. Or even other third sector providers. We will have to sell our services. Be much more accountable.

Councillor Lorna Campbell, the Cabinet member in Lambeth for health and social care, spoke about the project we have in Lambeth to look at the implications at local and community level of this change. This is part of the overall work of the Commission which is due to report in full later in 2010. So the Commission is working at both a strategic and a very practical level.

But to be clear, against a background of spending cuts, we have to watch any attempts by local councils or health authorities to use this as a cover to cut spending on these services. Matthew made a great point that this is also about delivering more bang for the buck. Making a pound work harder and deliver more. It's " Yes we can" from our sector!

Then back to a meeting with members in the ACEVO office to discuss issues for our "Ask" from the Parties in their manifestos. We had a particular focus on volunteering and the value it plays. I was particularly struck by the example of the Ramblers Association (their CEO, Tom Franklin, is an member) who talked of the work they do for their 125,000 members and some 14,000 active volunteers. One of their projects is about encouraging people with obesity problems to walk more! A great example of how our third sector can make a serious contribution to promoting better health and preventing ill health.

Mick Aldridge of the The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association made an excellent point about how we need a framework for citizen participation- which ranges from active volunteering through to just giving. Governments need to encourage and implement measures to promote that participation at all levels.

So I was well buoyed up by the time I went for a catch up with the excellent third sector team of Angela Smith MP and Tessa Jowell MP, who bat for us in Government and who are both such fans of what our sector can achieve.

I am often struck by the level of enthusiasm, talent, ingenuity and sheer energy amongst CEOs in our sector. It is no wonder that Governments look to us for answers!!