I was having a great day till I opened the Third Sector magazine . An article on Blogs with a review of 4 from sector leaders . Mine may have been judged second but it is only scored 7/10 and Adam Sampson gets 8/10. Who is this Chris Arnold guy doing the review and why has he such poor judgment ? It seems he likes the Adam blog cos it has a picture of him " holding a glass " ( a butch beer glass I might add ). And my blog apparently is full of typos. Really ? I always use the spell checker so I blame the computer. Anyway typos are a sign of a free spirit , untroubled by mere convention . Derrida would have approved.
But that aside there is a great story on the idea I have been floating - you read it here first - for a Social Investment and Development Bank . " Bid to build £1bn finance market " ,runs the headline . Interesting that I pick up a couple of negative comments as well as encouragement But I believe you need ambition for our sector. And ideas and innovation . A key part of my role as acevo CEO is thought leadership . If our sector is to grow we must have ambition and people who want to think big. But I have often found that if you have a big idea there will be plenty who like it and then others who can't wait to whinge . If an idea is good though it will withstand the criticism . But if I have learnt anything from my time at acevo, it is to make progress you need to be bold . Limiting ambition is not what our sector is about . I hope to at least start a debate . My argument needs to be tested and debated. if it stands up I hope government will take it forward . If not then it will die . It must be a debate worth having ; driving more capital into our sector to build capacity and develop infrastructure is essential to underpin growth .
It was interesting that last night I was at a dinner where Andrew Neill was speaking . He was clear that this century will see the growth of our sector and the power and influence we wield.Are we ready to take that much bigger role ?
To press home that point it was amusing to see today's FT carrying an article and interview ( page 2 no less ) which enabled me to set out my views on Government commissioning . It was headed " charity chief criticise Whitehall barriers " . It is a good piece of journalism and one that enables me to set out the problems members face in the price driven commissioning culture. Acevo has being battling away at Whitehall on the need for contact reform . And we are making progress . Just as we have made with Full Cost recovery . This is just the sort of real bread and butter issues that keep our sector CEOs awake at night . And its for acevo to fight for a better deal .
Small things can often amuse the CEO ; I am delighted that I manage to get a " breaking news " email to all my members on the launch of the Government White Paper on local government at 12.30 , exactly the time Hazel Blears stands up in the Commons to launch her " Communities in Control " document. Hazel rang me yesterday to give me a heads up on the key proposals .Important to get this information out to members . It is what they pay me for . I go to the launch at Cambridge House; a Settlement in Camberwell . I realise when I get there I have been before , a long time past , in my Lambeth days . They have a great CEO , an acevo member obviously !
Phil Hope announces that there will be a " community builders " fund of £70m to develop community anchors. I am really pleased , as the Chair of the Adventure Capital Fund we wanted this and we will now put in a tender to run it . But am under no illusions that the bid we make will have to be top class and it will be tested .In the world of tendering there are no sure wins and no certainties . We will work hard to put proposals to ensure a first class bid and the great thing about tendering is that the competition will hone the best result for the sector . if it is ACF ,that is good . If it is not then someone else who was better will have won . But I was worried they might give this Fund to local authorities or even the BLF so I'm very happy its to be a tender . I email Ed and Phil to thank them for ensuring this result.
On my way to the launch my nephew Julian ( about to do second year at Keble ) emails me from the States . He has been awarded a distinction in his first year exams . So he is now been awarded a Scholarship . And he writes it is such a relief , " it would have been a bit embarrassing to be the only Bubb at Oxford not to have a scholar's gown " ( his 2 uncles and cousin all won scholarships ). Good for Julian .
As a sign of the times I cannot remember when a local government White Paper dealing with local government would have been launched in a community organisation with a title like" communities in control ". I joke with Hazel afterwards that acevo published a major book with the same title which proved very influential in many of the proposals in Labour's manifesto for 2005 . But as she reminds me she had written a Fabian pamphlet of the same title long before acevo ! It is another indication of the growing ebb of the tide for the institutions of the state and the growth of the power of civil society .
As I blog Sparkles sits on my lap , quiet for a few moments . I have discovered she has great taste ( sic) . Whilst i was watching Newsnight yesterday I saw out of the corner of my eye a Duchamp tie making its way across the living room . Yes , it was Sparkles on one end .
I'm busy reading the classic text " The Perfect Puppy " by Gwen Bailey . All very well but couldn't find the chapter dealing with prevention of abuse of Duchamp ties.
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Desolation, death and York
I like Obituaries. That may appear weird but goes with painting family vaults - I guess. But for medieval man they would have their "momento moris " - a reminder of their mortality. A healthy attitude to one's coming demise is a great leveller.
There was a fascinating Obit in the Guardian recently; Michael Marland, a visionary London headteacher who wrote the seminal work "the craft of the classroom"
He wrote:
"The craft won't work without a spirit compounded of the salesman, the Music Hall performer, the parent, the clown, the intellectual, the lover and the organiser, but the spirit won't win through on its own either. Method matters. The more "organised" you are, the more sympathetic you can be."
What a brilliant summary of the job of a charity CEO too! It encapsulates what I wrote about in my CASS lecture; the need for passion and professionalism. No CEO is any good without vision and passion. No CEO will last long without professional staff and keeping an eye on the bottom line either.
I did not have lots of sleep this weekend. Puppies may be lovable frolicking in the grass down by the Charlbury Mill stream but frolicking on your bed at 3am is not quite so amusing!
So a relief of sorts to be on the train to Manchester acevo North was launching the recent Nita Clarke Report on Trades Unions and the Third Sector; "a reet good read written with a Yorkshire accent) as a speaker put it. We are now establishing an acevo working party to look at how to progress the recommendations in the Report. And I am speaking on it at the meeting of the Public Services Forum (a government-employer-third sector Forum) on Monday.
Then it's off to York via the Trans Pennines Express - a marvellous train journey through the hills and dark satanic mills of the north. I am going to see Julia Unwin of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Julia has one major claim to fame in the third sector (I'm sure there are more he hastily adds ) and that is she was the original inventor of Full Cost Recovery! In 1997 she wrote "who pays for core costs" for acevo. And the rest, as they say is history! She was also the first Chair of the Adventure Capital Fund and set it off on its journey - with the mantle now passed to me!
I get to York in time to go to a concert of early music in the Chapter House of York Minster. York is the national centre for early music; a brilliant third sector body as Julia tells me. The acoustics in the medieval building are stunning and the opening sequence led by a full throated counter tenor sends a chill down the spine;
" Domine libera animam a laliis iniquis et a lingua dolosa " Deliver me O Lord from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue,
Exactly, I think.
Of course the CoE Synod is meeting in York I am getting increasingly irritated by the media coverage which describes the evangelical wing of the church as "traditionalists. Bah humbug. I'm a traditionalist. I love the catholic tradition of the Church, the magnificence of the King James Bible, the soaring cadences of the Cranmer Book of Common Prayer and the glorious choral tradition of the church which the English have kept alive.
From what I have seen of Evangelical churches they are full of chattering and pop songs, Vicars in turtle neck sweaters and I suspect they would not recognise an Early English Mass setting if they were hit around the head with a tambourine. Now nothing wrong with that, but what I object to is the barely disguised homophobia and misogyny. I may be a lover of tradition but have strong liberal views on morality. The attitude of some in the church to sex, differing sexual orientations is often offensive and more so by being disguised in the cloak of their own literal (and selective)version of the Old Testament. And here I exhibit the same intolerance that they often show to others. What is it about religion that does this - a point I have debated with the Director of the National Secular Society (an acevo member).
But enough of the rant. I feel deeply sorry for The Archbishop (he is speaking at an acevo lunch in December) who has a house in Charlbury and who I have occasional worshipped with at the 8am BCP Communion in the Charlbury Parish church. The role of the CoE in our national life is important. The parish church is often a real centre of community activity. It is especially true in rural areas. And often it is the Church that plays a crucial role in our most deprived communities where practically the only professional left living in the area is the Parish Priest.
As well as a visit to JRF I have time to go to the market and pick up some toys and treats for Sparkles. Our new puppy! Oh, and tea from the incredible Betty's Tea Rooms. And even pop into some of the great medieval churches of York. One in particular I like - Holy Trinity. It's now run by the Churches Conservation Trust. Its CEO is Crispin Truman - an active acevo member and a talented and amusing guy.
But back to The Chapter House of York. And the glorious music of the 17th century The evening's programme is unremittingly about misery, desolation and death. The burden of the chains of sin and the glowing coals of hell fire. It's all most agreeable.
There was a fascinating Obit in the Guardian recently; Michael Marland, a visionary London headteacher who wrote the seminal work "the craft of the classroom"
He wrote:
"The craft won't work without a spirit compounded of the salesman, the Music Hall performer, the parent, the clown, the intellectual, the lover and the organiser, but the spirit won't win through on its own either. Method matters. The more "organised" you are, the more sympathetic you can be."
What a brilliant summary of the job of a charity CEO too! It encapsulates what I wrote about in my CASS lecture; the need for passion and professionalism. No CEO is any good without vision and passion. No CEO will last long without professional staff and keeping an eye on the bottom line either.
I did not have lots of sleep this weekend. Puppies may be lovable frolicking in the grass down by the Charlbury Mill stream but frolicking on your bed at 3am is not quite so amusing!
So a relief of sorts to be on the train to Manchester acevo North was launching the recent Nita Clarke Report on Trades Unions and the Third Sector; "a reet good read written with a Yorkshire accent) as a speaker put it. We are now establishing an acevo working party to look at how to progress the recommendations in the Report. And I am speaking on it at the meeting of the Public Services Forum (a government-employer-third sector Forum) on Monday.
Then it's off to York via the Trans Pennines Express - a marvellous train journey through the hills and dark satanic mills of the north. I am going to see Julia Unwin of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Julia has one major claim to fame in the third sector (I'm sure there are more he hastily adds ) and that is she was the original inventor of Full Cost Recovery! In 1997 she wrote "who pays for core costs" for acevo. And the rest, as they say is history! She was also the first Chair of the Adventure Capital Fund and set it off on its journey - with the mantle now passed to me!
I get to York in time to go to a concert of early music in the Chapter House of York Minster. York is the national centre for early music; a brilliant third sector body as Julia tells me. The acoustics in the medieval building are stunning and the opening sequence led by a full throated counter tenor sends a chill down the spine;
" Domine libera animam a laliis iniquis et a lingua dolosa " Deliver me O Lord from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue,
Exactly, I think.
Of course the CoE Synod is meeting in York I am getting increasingly irritated by the media coverage which describes the evangelical wing of the church as "traditionalists. Bah humbug. I'm a traditionalist. I love the catholic tradition of the Church, the magnificence of the King James Bible, the soaring cadences of the Cranmer Book of Common Prayer and the glorious choral tradition of the church which the English have kept alive.
From what I have seen of Evangelical churches they are full of chattering and pop songs, Vicars in turtle neck sweaters and I suspect they would not recognise an Early English Mass setting if they were hit around the head with a tambourine. Now nothing wrong with that, but what I object to is the barely disguised homophobia and misogyny. I may be a lover of tradition but have strong liberal views on morality. The attitude of some in the church to sex, differing sexual orientations is often offensive and more so by being disguised in the cloak of their own literal (and selective)version of the Old Testament. And here I exhibit the same intolerance that they often show to others. What is it about religion that does this - a point I have debated with the Director of the National Secular Society (an acevo member).
But enough of the rant. I feel deeply sorry for The Archbishop (he is speaking at an acevo lunch in December) who has a house in Charlbury and who I have occasional worshipped with at the 8am BCP Communion in the Charlbury Parish church. The role of the CoE in our national life is important. The parish church is often a real centre of community activity. It is especially true in rural areas. And often it is the Church that plays a crucial role in our most deprived communities where practically the only professional left living in the area is the Parish Priest.
As well as a visit to JRF I have time to go to the market and pick up some toys and treats for Sparkles. Our new puppy! Oh, and tea from the incredible Betty's Tea Rooms. And even pop into some of the great medieval churches of York. One in particular I like - Holy Trinity. It's now run by the Churches Conservation Trust. Its CEO is Crispin Truman - an active acevo member and a talented and amusing guy.
But back to The Chapter House of York. And the glorious music of the 17th century The evening's programme is unremittingly about misery, desolation and death. The burden of the chains of sin and the glowing coals of hell fire. It's all most agreeable.
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Sparkles arrives and Hazel reminisces
Welcome to Sparkles. 9 weeks old . A neat little bundle of fun .She is Jack Russell and arrived in Charlbury this morning . A cause of great comment as I take her with me shopping. There is certainly something about a puppy to cause conversation .
It is good to be back in my village after a couple of weeks away . The roses have had their best but the rambler s linger on and my vine went berserk so up ladders pruning . Bournemouth turned out to be useful . The Local Government Association conference . I arrived in time for the speech by David Cameron , my MP . It was one of those unscripted things he has decided he does so well . And indeed he does. But what impressed was the central role he clearly expects from the third sector. He talks of " triple devolution " ; outdoing David Miliband who was only on double devolution ( I text Ed , his brother to warn him ) . he says just as he wants power devolved to citizens from the State and to local government from central , he expects to see local government devolving power to the Third Sector . He argues the sector is often closer to people than councils and that in tackling the problems of what he describes as " breakdown Britain we need the third sector. It is clearly not a throw away line.the usual couple of paras on the saintly voluntary sector. And think it is great he makes this point to a hall full of Councillors. interestingly , in comparison with Hazel he talks much more on the sector than she does . And yet Hazel is a committed supporter of the role of the Sector.
Hazel speaks later . She is great , so dynamic and optimistic.I'm sitting near the front which may have been a mistake . Hazel gets onto the subject of local government in the 80s. She warns of no return to the days of Lambeth and Liverpool !! The people on the platform , who have spotted me ( former Lambeth Councillor of note and distinction) find this highly amusing.Sir Jeremy Beecham , that doyen of the councils , suggests afterwards I should have stood up and taken a bow. i gently remonstrate with Hazel afterwards . And we talk about the days of Council's with foreign policies . We were particularly keen on Nicaragua and she said Salford was too; she was a councillor there at the time . But I trumped her because I went on an official visit on behalf of the residents of Lambeth . The concerns of the peoples of Nicaragua and Lambeth were clearly greatly linked and it was good to visit ot bring them greetings of solidarity from my Clapham electors .The beach on the beautiful Corn Island , just off the Cari been coast of Nicaragua was a particularly special place for solidarity.
But good news on the acevo front comes via my Blackberry . Jack Straw has agreed to our proposal to set up an acevo-MoJ taskforce to look at how to increase the role of the third sector in providing prison and probation services. Great !I get a breaking news email out to all my members. And talk to "Third Sector" . I also tell them that FBE is looking at how we can increase the amount of investments we make in this area . It is very low at present so we may provide a new product , up to 10m to support more contracting in offender management . FBE will join the taskforce. I now need to select the acevo members to sit on the task force. That will be fun ( or not , as who sits on what generally excites ! )
Hazel holds a reception later for the Beacon Award winners ( Sir Jeremy whispers in my ear during the speeches " the beacon flames are somewhat low at the moment " ) . The DCLG are hosting . You can tell times are bad . the " champagne" appears to be from the same source that Prince Charles puts into the tank of his Aston Martin . I leave mine to one side , happy on this occasion to coincide my diabetic need to cut alcohol consumption with my desire to avoid being poisoned .I make this point to the Permanent Secretary of DCLG , the splendid Peter Housden who I meet chatting to the CEO of Nottingham Council , the egregious Jane Todd.
i chat to David Rossington of DCLG who is in charge of writing of the White Paper on "Empowering Communities ". This is being launched on Wednesday at the Camberwell Settlement ( one of our members ) Bad timing as I cancel my dentist appointment . I was having a crown ( fitting ) and now no crown , just empowered communities.
But the most amusing interlude in Bournemouth is my chat with Eric Pickles MP ; the Tory Local Government spokesperson . I have known Eric for over 20 years . When I worked at the Association of Metropolitan Authorities he was Leader of Bradford and was on the employers side for pay negotiations . I have always greatly liked Eric . A great sense of humour and pricker of pomposity. he readily accepts my invitation to do a lunch with my acevo members.i introduce him to Keith Sonnett from Unison .. he also wants to meet up with Eric . Now that is a sign of the times.
But now it is back to Sparkles .
It is good to be back in my village after a couple of weeks away . The roses have had their best but the rambler s linger on and my vine went berserk so up ladders pruning . Bournemouth turned out to be useful . The Local Government Association conference . I arrived in time for the speech by David Cameron , my MP . It was one of those unscripted things he has decided he does so well . And indeed he does. But what impressed was the central role he clearly expects from the third sector. He talks of " triple devolution " ; outdoing David Miliband who was only on double devolution ( I text Ed , his brother to warn him ) . he says just as he wants power devolved to citizens from the State and to local government from central , he expects to see local government devolving power to the Third Sector . He argues the sector is often closer to people than councils and that in tackling the problems of what he describes as " breakdown Britain we need the third sector. It is clearly not a throw away line.the usual couple of paras on the saintly voluntary sector. And think it is great he makes this point to a hall full of Councillors. interestingly , in comparison with Hazel he talks much more on the sector than she does . And yet Hazel is a committed supporter of the role of the Sector.
Hazel speaks later . She is great , so dynamic and optimistic.I'm sitting near the front which may have been a mistake . Hazel gets onto the subject of local government in the 80s. She warns of no return to the days of Lambeth and Liverpool !! The people on the platform , who have spotted me ( former Lambeth Councillor of note and distinction) find this highly amusing.Sir Jeremy Beecham , that doyen of the councils , suggests afterwards I should have stood up and taken a bow. i gently remonstrate with Hazel afterwards . And we talk about the days of Council's with foreign policies . We were particularly keen on Nicaragua and she said Salford was too; she was a councillor there at the time . But I trumped her because I went on an official visit on behalf of the residents of Lambeth . The concerns of the peoples of Nicaragua and Lambeth were clearly greatly linked and it was good to visit ot bring them greetings of solidarity from my Clapham electors .The beach on the beautiful Corn Island , just off the Cari been coast of Nicaragua was a particularly special place for solidarity.
But good news on the acevo front comes via my Blackberry . Jack Straw has agreed to our proposal to set up an acevo-MoJ taskforce to look at how to increase the role of the third sector in providing prison and probation services. Great !I get a breaking news email out to all my members. And talk to "Third Sector" . I also tell them that FBE is looking at how we can increase the amount of investments we make in this area . It is very low at present so we may provide a new product , up to 10m to support more contracting in offender management . FBE will join the taskforce. I now need to select the acevo members to sit on the task force. That will be fun ( or not , as who sits on what generally excites ! )
Hazel holds a reception later for the Beacon Award winners ( Sir Jeremy whispers in my ear during the speeches " the beacon flames are somewhat low at the moment " ) . The DCLG are hosting . You can tell times are bad . the " champagne" appears to be from the same source that Prince Charles puts into the tank of his Aston Martin . I leave mine to one side , happy on this occasion to coincide my diabetic need to cut alcohol consumption with my desire to avoid being poisoned .I make this point to the Permanent Secretary of DCLG , the splendid Peter Housden who I meet chatting to the CEO of Nottingham Council , the egregious Jane Todd.
i chat to David Rossington of DCLG who is in charge of writing of the White Paper on "Empowering Communities ". This is being launched on Wednesday at the Camberwell Settlement ( one of our members ) Bad timing as I cancel my dentist appointment . I was having a crown ( fitting ) and now no crown , just empowered communities.
But the most amusing interlude in Bournemouth is my chat with Eric Pickles MP ; the Tory Local Government spokesperson . I have known Eric for over 20 years . When I worked at the Association of Metropolitan Authorities he was Leader of Bradford and was on the employers side for pay negotiations . I have always greatly liked Eric . A great sense of humour and pricker of pomposity. he readily accepts my invitation to do a lunch with my acevo members.i introduce him to Keith Sonnett from Unison .. he also wants to meet up with Eric . Now that is a sign of the times.
But now it is back to Sparkles .
Thursday, 3 July 2008
James and I
Once upon a time I went on. A Duke of Edinburgh leadership programme. This was in the last century. And there I met one John Oliver, a Civil Servant, but none the worst for that. Now he works for the wonderful James Purnell; his PPS no less. And yesterday he sends me a photo of said wonderful man waving bag. And what looks like a stalker in the background. Oh yes he has identified stalker as me
It is the ""Women Like Us Reception on 25 June 2008.
So I have 2 photos from that reception - one with me and the former Secretary of State, John Hutton, lurking in background and one of the current SoS with me lurking with intent!
I'm off to Bournemouth for the Local Government Conference. Cameron speaking this morning. Hazel blears later (she has invited me for drinks - so shall be asking what she is doing on the long delayed Community Anchors Fund!)
And then dinner with the benighted denizens of local government.. Don't I have all the fun. Will remind me of the old days when I used to negotiate their pay! Now they all earn small fortunes and run less services I fear municipal plonk awaits.
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
virtual Jenny and foul play at work
Our first acevo Director's Group by Internet today. As we now have an acevo north Director based in Leeds we have organised an Internet link and Jenny joins us by computer screen . Works reasonably well . We thought about a special chair with red tasselled cushion on which we place the virtual Jenny ! It worked well for most of the meeting and then Jenny disappeared . Oh well, teething problems . But it makes sense and saves time and carbon footprint.
Lunch with Sam Coates , the Times Political Correspondent . He was just back from Glastonbury . He is young as you therefore gather . We were talking about the rising power of the third sector . He said that was obvious from Glastonbury with the stands and meetings of third sector organisations . Everyone very signed up to action on climate change etc but complete disinterest and distrust of the political process and distrust in politicians . This may not be altogether good but the reality is that there are now millions more people active in third sector bodies than involved in political parties or , often . voting . The 21st century is increasingly the century of the third sector . Whether the sector completely understands its power is sometimes a matter of doubt when you read the sector press and it's tedious obsession with internal navel gazing . Stuck in a narrow sector ghetto when there is a wide world to conquer .Brilliant example of this in today's "Third Sector" magazine which headlines on more charity commission investigations being published (wow, hold the front page ! ) and largely ignores the major implications of the recent Darzi Review which heralds a vastly increased role for the sector and a big expansion of service delivery . Good job I'd already alerted my members to how big this is.
I have such a fun lunch with Sam ; a mixture of gossip , reminiscence ( that was me reliving past triumphs )and political debate , that I overstay and am late for a planning meeting with my Chair and leading members to plan a day we are having with the senior civil service .
And then it is home . 3rd night in this week . Shock , horror .In time for the Archers and Corrie. But before I leave my Deputy Dr Kyle announces he is off to a Gallery Opening and then onto dinner at the Wolseley . And he having spent Monday evening at a dinner with the former American Ambassador and a top aide to George W. Bush .Shurly shome mistake ? I suspect foul play . Has he been lurking around my office intercepting the mail and stealing my best invitations ? I must call in MI5.
But the day is great . My nephew Alexander ,star of University Challenge and poet has got a First .I knew he would ! Brilliant Alex. Now for his application to All Souls. I can see the first Bubb Vice Chancellor .Or Master of Balliol. And my niece Miranda continues to revolutionise the store cupboard . Coming across past tracts by her Uncle . Scheduled for the tip to make room . Ah well ;
" But at my back I always hear ,
Time's winged chariot hurrying near "
( Andrew Marvell )
Lunch with Sam Coates , the Times Political Correspondent . He was just back from Glastonbury . He is young as you therefore gather . We were talking about the rising power of the third sector . He said that was obvious from Glastonbury with the stands and meetings of third sector organisations . Everyone very signed up to action on climate change etc but complete disinterest and distrust of the political process and distrust in politicians . This may not be altogether good but the reality is that there are now millions more people active in third sector bodies than involved in political parties or , often . voting . The 21st century is increasingly the century of the third sector . Whether the sector completely understands its power is sometimes a matter of doubt when you read the sector press and it's tedious obsession with internal navel gazing . Stuck in a narrow sector ghetto when there is a wide world to conquer .Brilliant example of this in today's "Third Sector" magazine which headlines on more charity commission investigations being published (wow, hold the front page ! ) and largely ignores the major implications of the recent Darzi Review which heralds a vastly increased role for the sector and a big expansion of service delivery . Good job I'd already alerted my members to how big this is.
I have such a fun lunch with Sam ; a mixture of gossip , reminiscence ( that was me reliving past triumphs )and political debate , that I overstay and am late for a planning meeting with my Chair and leading members to plan a day we are having with the senior civil service .
And then it is home . 3rd night in this week . Shock , horror .In time for the Archers and Corrie. But before I leave my Deputy Dr Kyle announces he is off to a Gallery Opening and then onto dinner at the Wolseley . And he having spent Monday evening at a dinner with the former American Ambassador and a top aide to George W. Bush .Shurly shome mistake ? I suspect foul play . Has he been lurking around my office intercepting the mail and stealing my best invitations ? I must call in MI5.
But the day is great . My nephew Alexander ,star of University Challenge and poet has got a First .I knew he would ! Brilliant Alex. Now for his application to All Souls. I can see the first Bubb Vice Chancellor .Or Master of Balliol. And my niece Miranda continues to revolutionise the store cupboard . Coming across past tracts by her Uncle . Scheduled for the tip to make room . Ah well ;
" But at my back I always hear ,
Time's winged chariot hurrying near "
( Andrew Marvell )
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Boris and Jack
Boris Johnston . Love him or hate him ? I heard him speak tonight and was impressed . I was at City Hall for a celebration with the Jack Petchey Foundation . They have just given away £50 million and Boris was there to cut a rather ostentatious cake in the shape of the words £50m alongside Jack Petchey . A range of acevo members there as well ;including my Chair John Low , David Emerson of the Association of Charitable Foundations ( in a splendid Duchamp tie; regret ably I had removed mine in the fierce heat ) and the charismatic Nick Wilkie of London Youth .And of course Andrew Billington who is the CEO of the Foundation and a long time acevo member.
The view from what is quaintly called the London sitting room , in other words the top of the City Hall , is marvellous . You get a complete 360 degree panorama. Well done Ken, I thought seditiously. And my niece Miranda came with me on her work experience week . I had introduced her to Jack Straw earlier . He had wanted to know what her career plans were . In the absence of a convincing answer from Miranda I suggested " Third Sector Leader " . It will soon be the only career of note !
I had come to the celebration from the Ministry of Justice where I had led a delegation of my members who work in offender management services to see Jack Straw , and his Minister of State David Hanson . Acevo gave very strong backing to the passage of the recent Offender Management Bill which we thought would open up access to more provision of client facing services to the third sector. We have been sorely disappointed . The forces of conservatism in the system have really derailed progress. What in particular has got up our nose was the covert way in which the 10% target was quietly dropped ( or was it ? ) . This was a target set 2 years ago to ensure that provision of service delivery started to move out of the hands of the state into the third and private sectors . They had got as far as achieving 5.5% but then rather than push for more officials decided to drop the target in place of a highly ill defined " best value " regime . But it became clear there is confusion about whether they had indeed dropped it at all . Or what best value might be and who decides that !
I make a very strong plea to Jack to keep the target as this may be the only way to force change . It may well be compatible with changes to commissioning along a best value line but without the stick of the target I just don't believe the forces of reaction that seem entrenched in the probation and prison service will be vanquished.
I say that though acevo will always strongly criticise back sliding and incorrect decisions by Government as a CEO body our job is to work with them to put things right. So I suggest that we establish a joint task force between acevo , on behalf of the sector , and the MoJ to look at the barriers against us in service provision, what we can do to remove them and whether to keep the Target and how that might work with a best value regime. Jack says they will think about this and discuss internally , but he promised he would let me know within 24 hours .We have quite a discussion on the target issue and I suspect Jack does see the arguments on this although they seem keen on a best value approach I wonder if the 2 are incompatible. That does sound hopeful . Members working in rehabilitation , in mental health and jobs and addiction agencies have so much to offer . One of my members says to Jack they had such high hopes of change and they have just so much to offer it is so frustrating we can't move forward . It is so clear we have a joint agenda here . Jack agrees.
I also suggest that there is a role here for Futurebuilders . Having talked to Jonathan,my FBE Chief Executive, we agree the take up of investment from offender management charities is abysmally low and we should work with the MoJ to drive up applications and I offer that we will look at how to invest to support this.If they establish a task force FBE will get involved to see what support could be offered.
So we shall see .
Our joint agenda is tackling crime and the causes of crime. Locking people up is not the answer in the long term . The John Smith Institute reckons that on current projections the prison population will rise from 65,000 to 93,000 in 2010. The damage is well rehearsed
* a third of prisoners lose their house whilst in prison.
* two - thirds lose their job
* two-fifths lose contact with their family
And which organisations are best placed to tackle these multiple issues ?
My dinner date from SERCO blows me out so I get home nice and early and sit in the window with a cup of tea listening to the Archers. A good day . A blow struck for the sector and my members.
The view from what is quaintly called the London sitting room , in other words the top of the City Hall , is marvellous . You get a complete 360 degree panorama. Well done Ken, I thought seditiously. And my niece Miranda came with me on her work experience week . I had introduced her to Jack Straw earlier . He had wanted to know what her career plans were . In the absence of a convincing answer from Miranda I suggested " Third Sector Leader " . It will soon be the only career of note !
I had come to the celebration from the Ministry of Justice where I had led a delegation of my members who work in offender management services to see Jack Straw , and his Minister of State David Hanson . Acevo gave very strong backing to the passage of the recent Offender Management Bill which we thought would open up access to more provision of client facing services to the third sector. We have been sorely disappointed . The forces of conservatism in the system have really derailed progress. What in particular has got up our nose was the covert way in which the 10% target was quietly dropped ( or was it ? ) . This was a target set 2 years ago to ensure that provision of service delivery started to move out of the hands of the state into the third and private sectors . They had got as far as achieving 5.5% but then rather than push for more officials decided to drop the target in place of a highly ill defined " best value " regime . But it became clear there is confusion about whether they had indeed dropped it at all . Or what best value might be and who decides that !
I make a very strong plea to Jack to keep the target as this may be the only way to force change . It may well be compatible with changes to commissioning along a best value line but without the stick of the target I just don't believe the forces of reaction that seem entrenched in the probation and prison service will be vanquished.
I say that though acevo will always strongly criticise back sliding and incorrect decisions by Government as a CEO body our job is to work with them to put things right. So I suggest that we establish a joint task force between acevo , on behalf of the sector , and the MoJ to look at the barriers against us in service provision, what we can do to remove them and whether to keep the Target and how that might work with a best value regime. Jack says they will think about this and discuss internally , but he promised he would let me know within 24 hours .We have quite a discussion on the target issue and I suspect Jack does see the arguments on this although they seem keen on a best value approach I wonder if the 2 are incompatible. That does sound hopeful . Members working in rehabilitation , in mental health and jobs and addiction agencies have so much to offer . One of my members says to Jack they had such high hopes of change and they have just so much to offer it is so frustrating we can't move forward . It is so clear we have a joint agenda here . Jack agrees.
I also suggest that there is a role here for Futurebuilders . Having talked to Jonathan,my FBE Chief Executive, we agree the take up of investment from offender management charities is abysmally low and we should work with the MoJ to drive up applications and I offer that we will look at how to invest to support this.If they establish a task force FBE will get involved to see what support could be offered.
So we shall see .
Our joint agenda is tackling crime and the causes of crime. Locking people up is not the answer in the long term . The John Smith Institute reckons that on current projections the prison population will rise from 65,000 to 93,000 in 2010. The damage is well rehearsed
* a third of prisoners lose their house whilst in prison.
* two - thirds lose their job
* two-fifths lose contact with their family
And which organisations are best placed to tackle these multiple issues ?
My dinner date from SERCO blows me out so I get home nice and early and sit in the window with a cup of tea listening to the Archers. A good day . A blow struck for the sector and my members.
Forces for Good!
Jackie Ballard, the Chief Executive of the RNID recommended I read a new book on third sector management "Forces for Good". An American tome (but none the worst for that) it looks at the experience of some of the top American non profits and what makes them successful. They look at the "myths" of non profit management and what they believe are the top 6 practices of the best.
I have just written a book review of this for acevo's network, our leadership journal. We are relaunching the Journal in a few weeks time so I had better not jump the gun or Agnes, the Editor, will have my guts for framing . But I thought it worth making one observation. It argues that the best non profits see business as powerful partners, not as wicked enemies and they also work with government in advocating policy change as well as often delivering services.
I believe this is true of the best third sector organisations in the UK too. I saw Victor Adebowale recently at the Social Care reception. He is an unashamed advocate of service delivery and partnership with Government. Turning Point do great work at the margins of society amongst our young people. The vast majority of his money is from contracts with the State. Yet he is a tireless advocate of a radical approach to young people's issues. This is true of so many of acevo's members. Martin Narey of Barnardo's or Clare Tickell of NCH are other examples. They work with Government and yet argue for change and against reactionary tendencies in government. But it is reasoned and evidenced argument, not mindless oppositionalism .
It is suggested that taking money from the State damages our independence. Those who argue this point do so from a position of emotion not fact. They produce no evidence to support the contention yet, on the contrary, the fact that so many of our organisations do now deliver at the front line gives us unparalleled access and knowledge to influence and to change policy from the inside. it is worrying that sometimes voices in the sector, and you see this so often in the letter pages of Third Sector, seek to deny the legitimacy of elected Government. Whatever the faults of our elected democracy local councillors and government are not enemies of Satan and have a right to determine the way we are governed. We, on our part, should be using our skill and knowledge to influence and guide that process by working with the State. Comments like "supping with the devil" when taking money from Government are an insult to the democratic foundations of our country and those making them should observe the role of civil society in Burma or Zimbabwe, for example.
acevo has always taken the view that as the Chief Executive representative body we work with an elected Government, of whatever complexion, to further the role of the Third Sector. Criticise where necessary. And loudly when needed (as I have done). We also talk to the Opposition to help ensure any of their policies will be evidence based and we will continue to work closely with the senior civil service and with Ministers to advance the Sector.
My niece Miranda is at acevo for a week on work experience from her school in South London. It is one of the schools run by the Independent Day Care Trust whose CEO is an acevo member. Miranda is put to work sorting the Store cupboard amongst other major duties but it is not all fun as I take her with me to a Sue Ryder Care reception in the House of Commons. Acevo gets a name check at the reception as they mention the vital importance of Full Cost Recovery and in particular to the recently published Full Cost Planner we launched to help third sector bodies plan their cost basis in strategic terms. Tomorrow she will be coming with me to a meeting with Jack Straw and then a reception with Boris at the London Mayor's HQ - if Store duties permit! And who knows perhaps Miranda is a future third Sector Leader. Leading Forces for Good!
I have just written a book review of this for acevo's network, our leadership journal. We are relaunching the Journal in a few weeks time so I had better not jump the gun or Agnes, the Editor, will have my guts for framing . But I thought it worth making one observation. It argues that the best non profits see business as powerful partners, not as wicked enemies and they also work with government in advocating policy change as well as often delivering services.
I believe this is true of the best third sector organisations in the UK too. I saw Victor Adebowale recently at the Social Care reception. He is an unashamed advocate of service delivery and partnership with Government. Turning Point do great work at the margins of society amongst our young people. The vast majority of his money is from contracts with the State. Yet he is a tireless advocate of a radical approach to young people's issues. This is true of so many of acevo's members. Martin Narey of Barnardo's or Clare Tickell of NCH are other examples. They work with Government and yet argue for change and against reactionary tendencies in government. But it is reasoned and evidenced argument, not mindless oppositionalism .
It is suggested that taking money from the State damages our independence. Those who argue this point do so from a position of emotion not fact. They produce no evidence to support the contention yet, on the contrary, the fact that so many of our organisations do now deliver at the front line gives us unparalleled access and knowledge to influence and to change policy from the inside. it is worrying that sometimes voices in the sector, and you see this so often in the letter pages of Third Sector, seek to deny the legitimacy of elected Government. Whatever the faults of our elected democracy local councillors and government are not enemies of Satan and have a right to determine the way we are governed. We, on our part, should be using our skill and knowledge to influence and guide that process by working with the State. Comments like "supping with the devil" when taking money from Government are an insult to the democratic foundations of our country and those making them should observe the role of civil society in Burma or Zimbabwe, for example.
acevo has always taken the view that as the Chief Executive representative body we work with an elected Government, of whatever complexion, to further the role of the Third Sector. Criticise where necessary. And loudly when needed (as I have done). We also talk to the Opposition to help ensure any of their policies will be evidence based and we will continue to work closely with the senior civil service and with Ministers to advance the Sector.
My niece Miranda is at acevo for a week on work experience from her school in South London. It is one of the schools run by the Independent Day Care Trust whose CEO is an acevo member. Miranda is put to work sorting the Store cupboard amongst other major duties but it is not all fun as I take her with me to a Sue Ryder Care reception in the House of Commons. Acevo gets a name check at the reception as they mention the vital importance of Full Cost Recovery and in particular to the recently published Full Cost Planner we launched to help third sector bodies plan their cost basis in strategic terms. Tomorrow she will be coming with me to a meeting with Jack Straw and then a reception with Boris at the London Mayor's HQ - if Store duties permit! And who knows perhaps Miranda is a future third Sector Leader. Leading Forces for Good!
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