Three cheers for the New York Fund Manager who took those shots of the unprovoked assault on Mr Tomlinson. It is great that new technology exposes the wrong doing of those whose job it is to protect us. Quis custodiet custodiens. And now we have the new development yesterday of the You Tube pictures of a woman being beaten by a police officer. It is clear that there were other such incidents as well from the accumulating news stories.The age of the mobile phone camera and video , and the use of Web 2.0 enables us all to keep a watch on the activities of our State. An inverse surveillance society.indeed.
For 20 years I was a Youth Court Magistrate in South London, so I have no illusions about the police or Prison Officers. Many of them are great public servants. And let's remember what other countries have to put up with! But let's not pretend its all great with our friends in blue. And when you put into play the psychology of crowds then it can be lethal. Literally so in this instance. And it is telling that the death of Mr Tomlinson has brought to light many other instances of police violence to innocent bystanders and even journalists covering the events.To publicise these stories is not about being anti police. The real problem is that these stories act to undermine public trust in our institutions . The police cannot do their job effectively if they lose public trust . That is why these stories are so damaging . That is why the blogs that uncovered the malicious behaviour of advisers in No 10 are so damaging . If people increasingly believe the State is not to be trusted then we damage our democratic institutions. It is interesting that whilst the State is losing trust , increasingly the third sector is seen as the vehicle for campaigns as well as delivery of public services. As is so clear , the 21st century is the century of the third sector. Are we up to that challenge?
The right to protest, like our right to campaign is a precious gift. But make no mistake, it is not to be taken for granted. Just as we applaud our New York banker we have to remember one of the more draconian aspects of recent anti-terrorism legalisation is a clause that makes it an offence to take photos of the police engaged in counter terrorist activities. Used, apparently against people taking photos of police cars parked on double yellow lines. So we must all be alert to attempts to curtail what we must cherish. That is why we have to protest loudly at those like Jill Kirby, of the Centre for Policy Studies, who tries to muzzle charity campaigning. It is an insidious attempt to curtail our right to demand change as a third sector, and so again damages our democratic institutions.
Blogs are coming into their own in a big way; YouTube, Twitter and Freedom of Information are the public's defence against a growing surveillance state. The downfall of McBride is a great example of how evil deeds can now be exposed. In ACEVO we have a division of responsibility with me blogging and my Deputy Twittering. And I am going to encourage more of our talented staff to take up new media to get messages across.
So its a great encouragement to me to carry on blogging . But it also makes the wider point that in an age of new media attention , our sector cannot be immune to challenge . Our sometimes less than transparent governance or our lack of accountability will be a source of more attention . And as we see a greater use of blogs and , indeed , freedom of Information requests we better all ensure we have our act together . there is increasingly no place to hide bad practise.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
The great Handel at Easter.
Easter has been very restful . Charlbury was at its splendid Spring best , despite the cold. I was expecting to go to Christ Church, Oxford for Easter communion , but the trains ( lack of ) prevented that plan . Instead it was our beautiful Parish Church of St Mary's, the 8am Book of Common Prayer service with that splendid Collect which asks that ;
"as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good
desires ,
so that by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect ".
But the bonus was that when I returned to the cottage Radio 4 had choral Eucharist from ...Christ Church . The service ended with a gorgeous rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus sung by the country's finest Cathedral Choir. It was like being transported to heaven listening to the music of one of England's greatest composers.And indeed it is said that Handel said that as he composed the Messiah he felt he was in a heavenly ecstasy . The messiah was the last music he heard before he died , and the lines of the great aria, " I know that my Redeemer liveth " are on his gravestone.
And Today marked the 250th anniversary of Handel's death and so I listened to the live performance of the Messiah from Westminster Abbey , where Handel is buried. In his will he left the copyright of the Messiah to the Foundling Hospital at Coram Fields , now part of the Coram Foundation and one of the country's oldest children's charities ; providing help and support , as well as campaigning for children, across the centuries .Indeed it holds one of the country's first government contracts when HM Treasury paid them to help support orphans in the 18th century.
A fitting end to the Easter break . Back to work with gusto tomorrow.
"as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good
desires ,
so that by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect ".
But the bonus was that when I returned to the cottage Radio 4 had choral Eucharist from ...Christ Church . The service ended with a gorgeous rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus sung by the country's finest Cathedral Choir. It was like being transported to heaven listening to the music of one of England's greatest composers.And indeed it is said that Handel said that as he composed the Messiah he felt he was in a heavenly ecstasy . The messiah was the last music he heard before he died , and the lines of the great aria, " I know that my Redeemer liveth " are on his gravestone.
And Today marked the 250th anniversary of Handel's death and so I listened to the live performance of the Messiah from Westminster Abbey , where Handel is buried. In his will he left the copyright of the Messiah to the Foundling Hospital at Coram Fields , now part of the Coram Foundation and one of the country's oldest children's charities ; providing help and support , as well as campaigning for children, across the centuries .Indeed it holds one of the country's first government contracts when HM Treasury paid them to help support orphans in the 18th century.
A fitting end to the Easter break . Back to work with gusto tomorrow.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Thought for Easter
When in Washington I went to see the Arlington cemetery grave of one of the great Presidents that America never had ; Robert F Kennedy. In a speech he said ;
" the Gross National Product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes , and ambulance to clear the highways of carnage .
It counts special locks for our doors and jails for the people who break them . GDP includes the destruction of the redwoods and the death of Lake Superior.
It grows with the production of napalm and missiles and nuclear weapons. And if GNP includes all this there is much that it does not comprehend.
It does not allow for the health of our families , the quality of their education , or the joy of their play . it is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike.
It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages , or the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials.
GNP measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning , neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country.
It measures everything , in short , except that which makes life worthwhile .
Happy Easter from all at ACEVO.
" the Gross National Product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes , and ambulance to clear the highways of carnage .
It counts special locks for our doors and jails for the people who break them . GDP includes the destruction of the redwoods and the death of Lake Superior.
It grows with the production of napalm and missiles and nuclear weapons. And if GNP includes all this there is much that it does not comprehend.
It does not allow for the health of our families , the quality of their education , or the joy of their play . it is indifferent to the decency of our factories and the safety of our streets alike.
It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages , or the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials.
GNP measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning , neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country.
It measures everything , in short , except that which makes life worthwhile .
Happy Easter from all at ACEVO.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Our glorious Third Sector
Good for Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA. He continues to Blog on the sector. His latest comments are worth reading. He is very ACEVO minded.(Click here to read it.) He has blogged on the need for governance reform and now echoes ACEVO's line on the importance of the third sector in our economy and society. I hope the recent controversy stirred up by the absurd attack on charity campaigning will help also direct attention to our sector and what we do.
I met recently with the new CEO of the Fundraising Standards Board, Alistair McLean (also an ACEVO member). This relatively new body is important to us. Bad fundraising has the strong capacity to damage a charity brand. This is a bold attempt at sector regulation by the sector itself. So it must work, or we risk regulation by others. Are we good at this?
The fundraising theme continues into the evening when I go to the launch of Virgin Money Giving. Virgin are taking over the sponsorship of the London Marathon from 2010. This is the largest single fundraising event in the world. So its vital. Virgin Giving has been set up as a new platform for Internet giving. It will handle all the sponsorship for the Marathon, but also will be a platform for other charity events. The new Chief Executive, Jo Barnett, has joined ACEVO and I am happy to offer her support. A charming and dynamic individual - as you would expect from Virgin! The evening involves drumming! The sight of the CEO of ACEVO and the CEO of The Institute of Fundraising with drums wedged between their thighs was one happily not captured by Third Sector magazine! Virgin Giving will be a free platform, so may be in competition with the for profit Just Giving. That will be interesting. But it is clear Internet giving is booming; as the new head of "The Big Give" tells me when he come in to see me this morning. Jon Brooks is not yet a member so I am aiming to seduce him in!
But you cannot divorce fundraising from the general reputation and brand of a charity; one of the key roles for a CEO. When I see the very variable standards of governance and the sometimes shaky trustee boards, I worry about our transparency and accountability.
And finally, as they say, I get an email from a member CEO who runs an international charity. He says it is becoming clear that the impact on the world's poorest people in recession is going to be "immense". For example he says the Irish Government have slashed their aid budget by 20%. He says, "we have many members working internationally who are facing real challenges as a consequence of exchange rate changes. There are a ACEVO members who are tied into arrangements which cannot easily be changed in the short and mid term where costs have risen by 25% as a result of the depreciation of sterling."
So perhaps a little reflection on this as we read reports of the recent research report from NCVO which has attracted some unfortunate headlines of the "crisis, what crisis" type . One of the reports The paper argues that "studies which predict recession catastrophe for charities are often not credible". The press report warns charities not to cry wolf and even suggest some charities may be talking up the crisis. Of course I have only seen the press interpretations and I am sure the actual report is more balanced, as one would expect.
I agree that the recession will present opportunities. I strongly believe that we can lead recovery. That is the purport of my recent lecture. And it is clear many parts of the sector are recession proof because the recession can be counter cyclical for some third sector bodies. But this type of reporting is deeply unhelpful to organisations like those above who are suffering real time and significant drops in support. In ACEVO we have seen a big rise in calls to our helplines and advice networks. There are CEOs who have lost their jobs. Telling them that they have been crying wolf is possibly not useful advice.
And now let me sign off by wishing you a very Happy and peaceful Easter. I shall be taking my Easter Communion at my old College in Oxford and even taking time off from blogging!
I met recently with the new CEO of the Fundraising Standards Board, Alistair McLean (also an ACEVO member). This relatively new body is important to us. Bad fundraising has the strong capacity to damage a charity brand. This is a bold attempt at sector regulation by the sector itself. So it must work, or we risk regulation by others. Are we good at this?
The fundraising theme continues into the evening when I go to the launch of Virgin Money Giving. Virgin are taking over the sponsorship of the London Marathon from 2010. This is the largest single fundraising event in the world. So its vital. Virgin Giving has been set up as a new platform for Internet giving. It will handle all the sponsorship for the Marathon, but also will be a platform for other charity events. The new Chief Executive, Jo Barnett, has joined ACEVO and I am happy to offer her support. A charming and dynamic individual - as you would expect from Virgin! The evening involves drumming! The sight of the CEO of ACEVO and the CEO of The Institute of Fundraising with drums wedged between their thighs was one happily not captured by Third Sector magazine! Virgin Giving will be a free platform, so may be in competition with the for profit Just Giving. That will be interesting. But it is clear Internet giving is booming; as the new head of "The Big Give" tells me when he come in to see me this morning. Jon Brooks is not yet a member so I am aiming to seduce him in!
But you cannot divorce fundraising from the general reputation and brand of a charity; one of the key roles for a CEO. When I see the very variable standards of governance and the sometimes shaky trustee boards, I worry about our transparency and accountability.
And finally, as they say, I get an email from a member CEO who runs an international charity. He says it is becoming clear that the impact on the world's poorest people in recession is going to be "immense". For example he says the Irish Government have slashed their aid budget by 20%. He says, "we have many members working internationally who are facing real challenges as a consequence of exchange rate changes. There are a ACEVO members who are tied into arrangements which cannot easily be changed in the short and mid term where costs have risen by 25% as a result of the depreciation of sterling."
So perhaps a little reflection on this as we read reports of the recent research report from NCVO which has attracted some unfortunate headlines of the "crisis, what crisis" type . One of the reports The paper argues that "studies which predict recession catastrophe for charities are often not credible". The press report warns charities not to cry wolf and even suggest some charities may be talking up the crisis. Of course I have only seen the press interpretations and I am sure the actual report is more balanced, as one would expect.
I agree that the recession will present opportunities. I strongly believe that we can lead recovery. That is the purport of my recent lecture. And it is clear many parts of the sector are recession proof because the recession can be counter cyclical for some third sector bodies. But this type of reporting is deeply unhelpful to organisations like those above who are suffering real time and significant drops in support. In ACEVO we have seen a big rise in calls to our helplines and advice networks. There are CEOs who have lost their jobs. Telling them that they have been crying wolf is possibly not useful advice.
And now let me sign off by wishing you a very Happy and peaceful Easter. I shall be taking my Easter Communion at my old College in Oxford and even taking time off from blogging!
Charities should be seen and not heard! Give us a break!
Fantastic to hear the robust defence of the historic right of charities to campaign on The Today programme this morning by Liam Byrne MP. The Government have announced a scheme to support small charities in their advocacy and campaigns role. I was appalled at the comments from Jill Kirby, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies also interviewed. She has also written a thoroughly disgraceful piece in The Times (Monday)attacking some of Britain's best loved and most respected Charities. I am not attaching a link as reading this article is bad for your blood pressure.
It is a core function of charities to campaign. It is our historic role. When we deliver services we also want to ensure policy and legislation is favourable for the people we serve .We want to change public opinion. We act to deal with the causes of poverty or crime or abuse , as well as the victims of such. The idea that charities should be seen but not heard is a grave disservice to the vibrancy and health of our democracy and civil society. Lets remember with three cheers all those people in Britain who worked in charities campaigning for an end to the slave trade 200 years ago. Lets remember with thanks the pioneers who set up the RSPCA to campaign against cruelty to animals. With pride we remember the fantastic work of the NSPCC who were set up to campaign against child abuse. And still do.
Jill Kirby, representing the Lady Bountiful wing of philanthropy, attacks Save the Children for "shameless political campaigning". I say thank goodness for that organisation highlighting child poverty in this country. It's the job of charities to both provide help and succour to those in distress and also to point out that Government's need to act to stamp out the root causes of child poverty. Not just a sticking plaster on society ills, but action to heal the wound.
She even has the temerity to attack the RSPB for their environmental campaigning. Oh please, why on earth should they not be alerting us to the problems of climate change and campaigning against developments that might harm bird life. I say well done to the thousands of staff and volunteers in RSPB prepared to stand up and give voice to concerns in this way.
She says we are "brazen". Yes, often, guilty as charged. We often need to be. It's what a fully functioning democracy needs, organisations of volunteers and professional staff who say "lets end child poverty". Its a noble aim, though clearly not for Ms Kirby.
In our recent work in Euclid for the leaders of civil society in the Balkans it was clear to me that for democracies to grow they need a strong and fearless civil society . To think that the only role charities should play in Britain is to provide services quietly is a denial of the very basis of our existence. I shall regard it as my Easter duty to attack this pernicious line of argument at every opportunity . How much poorer would our country be without the millions of people who support and get involved with charity campaigns. its something to celebrate. It helps save us from tyranny and the unfettered power of Government. I am glad to say that the line advocated by Ms Kirby is not one supported by the Conservatives, or by their highly effective Spokesperson Nick Hurd MP. ACEVO will support its members in their campaigning role and I send out an " All memebrs " this afternonn alerting Chief Executives to this debate .
But as I'm on a roll now let me also attack the argument that removing the tax advantage for higher rate taxpayers under Gift Aid , will cut giving. Prof Lester Salomon from the States gave me an interesting article he is about to publish which shows that the big tax breaks Bush gave to the super rich did not result in more giving , even though that was the argument used to partly justify that policy. Click here to read it
It is a core function of charities to campaign. It is our historic role. When we deliver services we also want to ensure policy and legislation is favourable for the people we serve .We want to change public opinion. We act to deal with the causes of poverty or crime or abuse , as well as the victims of such. The idea that charities should be seen but not heard is a grave disservice to the vibrancy and health of our democracy and civil society. Lets remember with three cheers all those people in Britain who worked in charities campaigning for an end to the slave trade 200 years ago. Lets remember with thanks the pioneers who set up the RSPCA to campaign against cruelty to animals. With pride we remember the fantastic work of the NSPCC who were set up to campaign against child abuse. And still do.
Jill Kirby, representing the Lady Bountiful wing of philanthropy, attacks Save the Children for "shameless political campaigning". I say thank goodness for that organisation highlighting child poverty in this country. It's the job of charities to both provide help and succour to those in distress and also to point out that Government's need to act to stamp out the root causes of child poverty. Not just a sticking plaster on society ills, but action to heal the wound.
She even has the temerity to attack the RSPB for their environmental campaigning. Oh please, why on earth should they not be alerting us to the problems of climate change and campaigning against developments that might harm bird life. I say well done to the thousands of staff and volunteers in RSPB prepared to stand up and give voice to concerns in this way.
She says we are "brazen". Yes, often, guilty as charged. We often need to be. It's what a fully functioning democracy needs, organisations of volunteers and professional staff who say "lets end child poverty". Its a noble aim, though clearly not for Ms Kirby.
In our recent work in Euclid for the leaders of civil society in the Balkans it was clear to me that for democracies to grow they need a strong and fearless civil society . To think that the only role charities should play in Britain is to provide services quietly is a denial of the very basis of our existence. I shall regard it as my Easter duty to attack this pernicious line of argument at every opportunity . How much poorer would our country be without the millions of people who support and get involved with charity campaigns. its something to celebrate. It helps save us from tyranny and the unfettered power of Government. I am glad to say that the line advocated by Ms Kirby is not one supported by the Conservatives, or by their highly effective Spokesperson Nick Hurd MP. ACEVO will support its members in their campaigning role and I send out an " All memebrs " this afternonn alerting Chief Executives to this debate .
But as I'm on a roll now let me also attack the argument that removing the tax advantage for higher rate taxpayers under Gift Aid , will cut giving. Prof Lester Salomon from the States gave me an interesting article he is about to publish which shows that the big tax breaks Bush gave to the super rich did not result in more giving , even though that was the argument used to partly justify that policy. Click here to read it
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Budget ideas and visits from Americans
My Head of Media tells me that in the last week we have had 533 visits to our new recession support website from people in the States . So perhaps our recent visit stirred something up . And I have been getting a lot of traffic about my Blogs, especially about the exciting new centre at the White House .
Although it does take time I think the Blog is a great communications tool . Unexpurgated and unfiltered . Sometimes a bit too revealing . Sometimes a bit too edgy . Sometimes provoking .But it works as a means of communicating issues and appears to be widely read . And having a spoof blog too , though the mystery blogger has gone quiet for a time?
We have just sent off our ideas to the Chancellor for the upcoming Budget . We focus on ;
* the need for gift aid reform ( especially higher rate taxpayers )
* VAT reforms
* A Social Investment Bank; high time for action on this from government,
* a major job creation programme as unemployment rises to 3m.
* action on Icelandic bank deposit losses , ( the recent Treasury select Committee recommendations are very pertinent and timely . ).Along with colleagues in the sector we have lobbied hard on this for our members who have suffered losses.
And we stress strongly the need for a major works programme to deliver more jobs and full time volunteering. my member and Trustee , the great and prolific Tom Flood , CEO of BTCV, tells me they have signed the deal with DWP it deliver a major programme for volunteering in the light of the recession . But he is still pushing for a " GREEN ARMY " of 500,000 to tackle the problems of sustainability in our communities. government needs to think big . they manage that for the bank bail out . How about for the jobless?
Listening to Hazel Blears MP on Question Time I do wonder if there is a collective denial that the unemployment situation is not going to get so much worse and rise to over 3 m . That would mean 1 in 10 Britons out of work . We cannot let this happen . And only a big programme of job creation , where the sector plays a massive role , can help avoid this.
I write to Kevin Brennan MP and Stuart Etherington to suggest we discuss this more at the next recession Summit on June 2nd.
Although it does take time I think the Blog is a great communications tool . Unexpurgated and unfiltered . Sometimes a bit too revealing . Sometimes a bit too edgy . Sometimes provoking .But it works as a means of communicating issues and appears to be widely read . And having a spoof blog too , though the mystery blogger has gone quiet for a time?
We have just sent off our ideas to the Chancellor for the upcoming Budget . We focus on ;
* the need for gift aid reform ( especially higher rate taxpayers )
* VAT reforms
* A Social Investment Bank; high time for action on this from government,
* a major job creation programme as unemployment rises to 3m.
* action on Icelandic bank deposit losses , ( the recent Treasury select Committee recommendations are very pertinent and timely . ).Along with colleagues in the sector we have lobbied hard on this for our members who have suffered losses.
And we stress strongly the need for a major works programme to deliver more jobs and full time volunteering. my member and Trustee , the great and prolific Tom Flood , CEO of BTCV, tells me they have signed the deal with DWP it deliver a major programme for volunteering in the light of the recession . But he is still pushing for a " GREEN ARMY " of 500,000 to tackle the problems of sustainability in our communities. government needs to think big . they manage that for the bank bail out . How about for the jobless?
Listening to Hazel Blears MP on Question Time I do wonder if there is a collective denial that the unemployment situation is not going to get so much worse and rise to over 3 m . That would mean 1 in 10 Britons out of work . We cannot let this happen . And only a big programme of job creation , where the sector plays a massive role , can help avoid this.
I write to Kevin Brennan MP and Stuart Etherington to suggest we discuss this more at the next recession Summit on June 2nd.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Centre for Social Innovation
Obama has established a Centre for Social Innovation in the White House. My very last meeting of my recent visit to non profits in The States was to meet the staff of this new Centre in the White House, and talk about what they plan .
It is still early days , but it is clear President Obama sees this as an important initiative .he has earmarked $50m this year , rising to $200m to provide a Social Innovation Fund but this is expected to raise a further $500m in leverage from the commercial sector and the States .
They have a number of goals :
* They want to use policy tools to create a better climate for innovation as well as new bodies , such as the Fund ,
* They will look at the barriers that prevent innovation going to scale,
* They will use the new impetus of the Serve America Act ; which builds on the work of the conservation corps etc ( this is the Obama volunteering initiatives )to encourage innovative approaches ; the new " Corporation of National Service "will have a capacity building arm ,
* Exploit the new media tools developed in the Obama campaign for innovation.
* Develop partnerships , particularly with the private sector .
They will have a similar approach to our own Office of the Third Sector in that they will forge links and work through the big Federal departments of State; particularly in Health , Education and Jobs. They are also working on a "Presidential Challenge " scheme.
It was a very positive meeting of minds . We talked about the example of Futurebuilders . Prof Salamon , (the leading States non profit academic)who was with us , said what Amercia needed was an American Futurebuilders! I said we would be delighted to help .I gave her some examples of the way in which Futurebuilders invests in the sector ,and how this model helps unlock capital money for the sector , when traditionally they are effectively barred from capital markets.
I also liked their emphasis on removing barriers . This is an approach that ACEVO has taken in its work on funding and commissioning , so we talk about that and our campaign to get Full Cost Recovery . Often it is the small and inconsequential bureaucratic rules that prevent the sector delivering more ,or [persuading the public sector to fund roll outs of our ideas .
It is not always the result of deliberate policy . ACEVO's work with DWP has shown how we can move to get change by intensive engagement with Government departments rather than the usual whinging .
We also talked about the Innovation Exchange ; a UK initiative led by the brilliant 2 brained and charming John Craig . ACEVO is a partner in this Government backed scheme which looks at the barriers to scaling up third sector innovation into the public sector. Seb is on the Board and talks about its work . We agree to put them in touch .
This is all exciting but work in progress .I came away very positive about their approach and excited at what it might achieve . In some areas the States are ahead of us , for example in the Community Reinvestment Act , but it is also clear we have a lot to teach too . I have asked them to come across to the UK in September to talk about what we are doing and we will also arrange more in depth discussions with acevo members , Futurebuilders and the Innovation Exchange. I'm hoping they will contribute to our annual Futurebuilders Conference.
This is a link we will forge into steel to suppoprt the third sectors in both countries.
We are now working on a transatlantic round table and workshop to build links.
Amusingly , in the meeting at the White House Lester Salomon says that right wing republicans and parts of the banking industry are attempting to claim that the Community Reinvestment Act was investment into sub prime organisations , helped facilitate the crisis and so should be repealed. In fact Lester says the evidence is that these loans have been more stable and more productive than the usual bank loans . I return to open my copy of Brolly Weekly ( as Third Sector is now known ) to discover someone in our sector peddling the same line that this is sub prime lending so led to the recession . Sub prime lending is only bad when it involves reckless risk that fails to pay off . The evidence of the Act in the States is that it actually opened up a stream of lending that was profitable and stable , but had been ignored by the Banks because of their ridiculous and discriminatory red lining . In other words , lending to black or small community organisations can be both sensible and is not inherently more risky . These are not hedge funds . These are not deals done simply to make a banker a bonus . I'm shocked someone in our sector has fallen for this line and will be in touch with him.
Meanwhile it is back to the Office with a vengeance . Much to do , but thank goodness for a blackberry which has meant i was in regular touch with our wonderful staff...even with a 4 hour delay in replying to email. And what a superb weekend . In Charlbury the blossom is out and the Hound had a great few walks in the fields . I was not sure her chasing a Bull was very advisable though ; still no challenge too great for Sparkles. Like her Lord and Master !
It is still early days , but it is clear President Obama sees this as an important initiative .he has earmarked $50m this year , rising to $200m to provide a Social Innovation Fund but this is expected to raise a further $500m in leverage from the commercial sector and the States .
They have a number of goals :
* They want to use policy tools to create a better climate for innovation as well as new bodies , such as the Fund ,
* They will look at the barriers that prevent innovation going to scale,
* They will use the new impetus of the Serve America Act ; which builds on the work of the conservation corps etc ( this is the Obama volunteering initiatives )to encourage innovative approaches ; the new " Corporation of National Service "will have a capacity building arm ,
* Exploit the new media tools developed in the Obama campaign for innovation.
* Develop partnerships , particularly with the private sector .
They will have a similar approach to our own Office of the Third Sector in that they will forge links and work through the big Federal departments of State; particularly in Health , Education and Jobs. They are also working on a "Presidential Challenge " scheme.
It was a very positive meeting of minds . We talked about the example of Futurebuilders . Prof Salamon , (the leading States non profit academic)who was with us , said what Amercia needed was an American Futurebuilders! I said we would be delighted to help .I gave her some examples of the way in which Futurebuilders invests in the sector ,and how this model helps unlock capital money for the sector , when traditionally they are effectively barred from capital markets.
I also liked their emphasis on removing barriers . This is an approach that ACEVO has taken in its work on funding and commissioning , so we talk about that and our campaign to get Full Cost Recovery . Often it is the small and inconsequential bureaucratic rules that prevent the sector delivering more ,or [persuading the public sector to fund roll outs of our ideas .
It is not always the result of deliberate policy . ACEVO's work with DWP has shown how we can move to get change by intensive engagement with Government departments rather than the usual whinging .
We also talked about the Innovation Exchange ; a UK initiative led by the brilliant 2 brained and charming John Craig . ACEVO is a partner in this Government backed scheme which looks at the barriers to scaling up third sector innovation into the public sector. Seb is on the Board and talks about its work . We agree to put them in touch .
This is all exciting but work in progress .I came away very positive about their approach and excited at what it might achieve . In some areas the States are ahead of us , for example in the Community Reinvestment Act , but it is also clear we have a lot to teach too . I have asked them to come across to the UK in September to talk about what we are doing and we will also arrange more in depth discussions with acevo members , Futurebuilders and the Innovation Exchange. I'm hoping they will contribute to our annual Futurebuilders Conference.
This is a link we will forge into steel to suppoprt the third sectors in both countries.
We are now working on a transatlantic round table and workshop to build links.
Amusingly , in the meeting at the White House Lester Salomon says that right wing republicans and parts of the banking industry are attempting to claim that the Community Reinvestment Act was investment into sub prime organisations , helped facilitate the crisis and so should be repealed. In fact Lester says the evidence is that these loans have been more stable and more productive than the usual bank loans . I return to open my copy of Brolly Weekly ( as Third Sector is now known ) to discover someone in our sector peddling the same line that this is sub prime lending so led to the recession . Sub prime lending is only bad when it involves reckless risk that fails to pay off . The evidence of the Act in the States is that it actually opened up a stream of lending that was profitable and stable , but had been ignored by the Banks because of their ridiculous and discriminatory red lining . In other words , lending to black or small community organisations can be both sensible and is not inherently more risky . These are not hedge funds . These are not deals done simply to make a banker a bonus . I'm shocked someone in our sector has fallen for this line and will be in touch with him.
Meanwhile it is back to the Office with a vengeance . Much to do , but thank goodness for a blackberry which has meant i was in regular touch with our wonderful staff...even with a 4 hour delay in replying to email. And what a superb weekend . In Charlbury the blossom is out and the Hound had a great few walks in the fields . I was not sure her chasing a Bull was very advisable though ; still no challenge too great for Sparkles. Like her Lord and Master !
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