Oh yes . Fantastic news . Barak Obama as the Presidential Candidate .I have to admit to a tear as I watched the news tonight. This guy is so inspiring. An historic moment that makes you feel proud and optimistic about the power of vision and change .
And you have to contrast that with what we have on offer in the UK. We start the week with a crass policy announcement about locking up more young people for the crime of " persistent drinking " . This is an old idea that was rightly consigned to the scrap heap when it was last aired. Has evidence based policy making finally bit the dust ? What wet behind the ears policy advisor found this one in the closet when they were hunting around the Home Office one dingy evening ?
And now we have plans announced by the PM to bring more prosecutions for 16 year olds carrying knives. So we now have 2 measures in the space of 3 days guaranteed to criminalise more young people . More youth in young offender institutions; receiving a different type of education - with more hardened youth . And this is supposed to cut crime . Just listen to the children charities and learn about what works and what does not. Listen to Rob Owen of the St Giles Trust in South London who works against the odds to provide work and training to youth at risk . Send the 16 years olds with knives to him , not to the courts. Or to Paul Cavadino of NACRO and Joyce Mosley of Rainer. Great sector leaders ; members of mine who drive for change.Listen to them and give them the resources to do the real hard work that goes into rehabilitation . Giving hope to excluded and vulnerable young people.
We now have record numbers in our prisons. 82500 people in prisons when there are only 81000 prison places. And we know that means much of the rehabilitation work that should go on in prison is cut short or ended. Many of those in prison have serious mental health problems or addictions. What support do they now get ? And do we think that when they eventually emerge they will not go back to a life of crime?
The demands on the probation services to provide support for people coming out of prison are stretched to breaking point. But instead of Government looking to put more resources into rehabilitation it will be spent on more prisons . Already we lock up more people than in the rest of Europe. Many of my members work in the difficult areas of rehabilitation and support for ex offenders and we have established a special interest group to harness their views and relay them to Government. They have real experience of what works but they are not being listened to properly. We want to provide more services but are being starved of funds. Government is looking to renege on plans to tender more offender management services to the third sector unless we can stop it.
If most crime is committed by people who have already been in the criminal justice system then it ain't rocket science to work out how to actually cut crime ....or have I missed some thing?
But for me , with 20 years experience as a Magistrate in the youth courts in South London, I despair especially that the lessons about criminalising young people are not learnt . The sorry consequence of locking up vulnerable young people is clear . More crime . I have never forgotten the experience of visiting Feltham Young Offender Institution or the story of the kid we had sent there on bail who then committed suicide. I remember the letter from one kid on bail read out to us in Court who begged to be taken out of the institution he was in because he was being bullied . It was a letter of despair. I remember these people when I hear the speech of Gordon Brown on the news .
I want to see change I can believe in here. An inspiring vision . Not an agenda determined by newspaper headlines.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Bread and ...Roses too
No II Downing St. 8am . Launch of acevo report on the relations between the trades unions and third third sector. " The Way Ahead" was commissioned by acevo and written by Nita Clarke , a long time union official before going to work in No 10 for Blair on Government and union relations.She now runs the IPA ( The Involvement and Participation Association ) and is an acevo member.Nita is a star . Her husband is an old friend from days in Notting Hill ; Stephen Benn , son of Tony. Her daughter is the youngest ever parliamentary candidate.
I was up at 5.45 am preparing , as I was going to be Chairing the event and we had 2 Minsters coming as well as various Union Officials. I prepared my speech ; heavy on nostalgia ( which I do so well ) . Of course my first real job was as Research Officer for the Transport and General Workers Union under the great and charismatic leader Jack Jones. he remains for me the most inspirational Boss I have ever had , but for as far as my staff are concerned it's " Jack who ? " So I felt at home on this subject.But you need to prepare . especially if you want to appear effortless . I do not do set speeches , or read from notes . It just does not work . But to do that requires more preparation .
So , early in the morning , ( Today programme in the background ), I dig through my collection of memoirs and books on old trade union leaders and find a brilliant story in the autobiography of Jim Griffiths , one time NUM official and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party , and a Minister under Attlee. He describes a strike in the States , which was not about the usual pay issues , but about the dehumanising work conditions . On the demonstration the union marched behind a banner which proclaimed ;
" We want Bread ...and Roses too."
I suggest this is a theme that unifies the trade unions and the third sector. Our vision of a better society . A tradition we share. I read this story from the Griffiths book , but as I pick it up I notice my Deputy , Dr Kyle , who is lurking menacingly at the back of the room and is pointing at his watch . As if he thinks I am just going to go on and on , mesmerised by speaking in No 11 , with 2 attentive Ministers by my side and a room full of my wonderful members and other luminaries ! A good speech none the less , he blogs modestly. though i think the prize went to Calre Tickell ., the CEO of NCH who spoke last and has a great style , slightly self deprecating but killer points ! And Tom Watson , who I have not heard speak before, was witty and engaging and a great down to earth touch which had his audience ( we are a difficult bunch after all ) wanting more !
Phil Hope MP , our Third Sector Minister , makes an impassioned speech about the need for the sector to upskill , to take advantage of the " train to gain " scheme. he is right and acevo must do more ot make members aware that ther eis money for this. Always welcome news.
The nostalgia theme runs away with itself as we have a competition between speakers and questioners who are dying to tell us that , once , many years ago they were a .....trade union convener , official , worker on the shop floor in the sector....you get the picture . My fault for starting down this track.And I am trumped by the Unison Deputy GS , Keith Sonnet , who reminds me of my Lambeth past but suggests that may not be now on the CV ? Cheeky. And it depends.
On guy in particular it is good to see . Ray Collins , currently the deputy General Secretary at the union Unite. He and I worked together in research at the T+G. Rumour has it 9 and I could not possibly confirm it from my conversation that he is to be the new General Secretary of the Labour Party.
This is an important report. Get it from the acevo website . It is fantastically written. We now have to carry forward the recommendations Nita has made. I commit to trying to do so . And Tom Watson MP , who is the Chair of the Public Services Forum says he wants to meet to talk through action and how they can help . We shall do this . I am also writing to Stuart Etherington of ncvo to suggest this is an agenda we need to work together on . We have a shared view and both acevo and ncvo are on the Public Services Forum , (with the CBI and the TUC ) , representing the sector.
i leave No 11 reluctantly . But work beckons.
I was up at 5.45 am preparing , as I was going to be Chairing the event and we had 2 Minsters coming as well as various Union Officials. I prepared my speech ; heavy on nostalgia ( which I do so well ) . Of course my first real job was as Research Officer for the Transport and General Workers Union under the great and charismatic leader Jack Jones. he remains for me the most inspirational Boss I have ever had , but for as far as my staff are concerned it's " Jack who ? " So I felt at home on this subject.But you need to prepare . especially if you want to appear effortless . I do not do set speeches , or read from notes . It just does not work . But to do that requires more preparation .
So , early in the morning , ( Today programme in the background ), I dig through my collection of memoirs and books on old trade union leaders and find a brilliant story in the autobiography of Jim Griffiths , one time NUM official and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party , and a Minister under Attlee. He describes a strike in the States , which was not about the usual pay issues , but about the dehumanising work conditions . On the demonstration the union marched behind a banner which proclaimed ;
" We want Bread ...and Roses too."
I suggest this is a theme that unifies the trade unions and the third sector. Our vision of a better society . A tradition we share. I read this story from the Griffiths book , but as I pick it up I notice my Deputy , Dr Kyle , who is lurking menacingly at the back of the room and is pointing at his watch . As if he thinks I am just going to go on and on , mesmerised by speaking in No 11 , with 2 attentive Ministers by my side and a room full of my wonderful members and other luminaries ! A good speech none the less , he blogs modestly. though i think the prize went to Calre Tickell ., the CEO of NCH who spoke last and has a great style , slightly self deprecating but killer points ! And Tom Watson , who I have not heard speak before, was witty and engaging and a great down to earth touch which had his audience ( we are a difficult bunch after all ) wanting more !
Phil Hope MP , our Third Sector Minister , makes an impassioned speech about the need for the sector to upskill , to take advantage of the " train to gain " scheme. he is right and acevo must do more ot make members aware that ther eis money for this. Always welcome news.
The nostalgia theme runs away with itself as we have a competition between speakers and questioners who are dying to tell us that , once , many years ago they were a .....trade union convener , official , worker on the shop floor in the sector....you get the picture . My fault for starting down this track.And I am trumped by the Unison Deputy GS , Keith Sonnet , who reminds me of my Lambeth past but suggests that may not be now on the CV ? Cheeky. And it depends.
On guy in particular it is good to see . Ray Collins , currently the deputy General Secretary at the union Unite. He and I worked together in research at the T+G. Rumour has it 9 and I could not possibly confirm it from my conversation that he is to be the new General Secretary of the Labour Party.
This is an important report. Get it from the acevo website . It is fantastically written. We now have to carry forward the recommendations Nita has made. I commit to trying to do so . And Tom Watson MP , who is the Chair of the Public Services Forum says he wants to meet to talk through action and how they can help . We shall do this . I am also writing to Stuart Etherington of ncvo to suggest this is an agenda we need to work together on . We have a shared view and both acevo and ncvo are on the Public Services Forum , (with the CBI and the TUC ) , representing the sector.
i leave No 11 reluctantly . But work beckons.
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Down memory lane and into the Sunlight with the Tories
Standing outside my Great Grandmother's house today I was reflecting on how times have changed. As you do when you get older.I had travelled down to Gillingham where many eons ago I had been at Gillingham Grammar School ( I was born not far away in a village on the North Downs ; Wigmore. ) But today I was there to attend the launch of Tory plans by David Cameron. Today I was travelling on an electric train . The very first time I went on the Gillingham to London line it was on a steam train . Can we persuade Boris to bring back steam along with the route master one wonders? I think I will ask David.
Granny Gertrude Bubb was a formidable woman , at least so it seemed to a 8 year old boy . The long dress and coat .The forbidding hat . Gertrude died in 1960 when I was 8 . 46 years sater I am on my way to the launch of the Conservative Party Plans for the Third Sector at the inaptly named ( it is raining ) Sunlight Centre I doubt Granny would understand the term third Sector , but I suspect she would be hugely proud of her first born Great Grandson.
The Tories were having the launch of their Green Paper on the Sector at the aforementioned " Sunlight Centre * ( a former laundry as my Father reminds me ) , a social enterprise on Richmond Rd. It is in the very Parish where my Parents were married in 1952 as I tell Greg Clark MP , who is the Tory spokesperson on the Third Sector . He mentions this in his speech when he launches the plans with David Cameron. I'm flattered ,and even more so when he introduces me as " somewhat of a Guru for the Third Sector. " I always thought that Greg was very perspicacious.
The Green Paper is welcome . It should be as they have clearly been listening to the voices of sector Chief Executives. They make clear the need to reform contracts and commissioning , the desire to sweep away bureaucracy and to give the sector it's head. Of course in this they are reflecting what the current Government are trying to achieve , but who are finding that reality in local authorities and health trusts is very different from the bold rhetoric of Government support for the sector. Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of the plans is their demand that charities be allowed to make profits....though David Cameron eschews that actual word and talks of surplus . But they are right. We should be able to make a surplus ,which we reinvest into the business ; building our capacity and ability to deliver professional services.
acevo has led the charge on funding and contract reform . We invented the term " full cost recovery " to ensure the state paid the full cost of the contracts they have with the third sector . The Government have accepted the concept as policy . But the Tories are going further . They are saying we should be on a par with the private sector in competition and as able to generate profit . This is counter cultural when most people think of the charity sector as all jumble sales and raffles , rather than professional deliverers of citizen focused services. I am quizzed by a journalist from The Times who suggests this is not a proper function of charity, but I hope I convince her a modern dynamic third sector is entitled to a proper return for good services delivered.
I ask David Cameron about their commitment to third sector service delivery .Their Green Paper says they support more service delivery through the sector but is light on specifics . So what , I ask, is their plan to achieve this ? He says long term contracts and effective commissioning . After the launch I talk to Francis Maude who says they intend to do more work on contract and commissioning reform . I pledge acevo support for this work . They are right to identify this as a major stumbling block to change and this is a message I have been hammering away on with Government.
The truth is the Green Paper does not contain many surprises but the fact that they have heard our concerns and want to take action is a step to progress. We now have to ensure they deliver the change to which they have committed. Actions always speak louder than words. So policies have to be grounded in practicalities before change become real.It is our job to ensure that happens . So acevo will carry on the push for better funding . longer term contracts and public service reform with Government and Opposition .
And as I remind a journalist if they are serious on profit I expect to see the many Tory Local authorities starting implementing this for their third sector clients. We shall see . I tell my folk back in the office we should conduct a survey of Tory authorities in a years time to gauge progress.
They also say they will consult on making the Compact statutory . Hooray . It can now only be a matter of time before the Government and the Compact Commissioner announce this reform . Indeed I understand it was only conventions that stopped the Tories actually saying they would make it statutory .But this is now just a question of how to do it , not whether it is a good thing . And about time too. Another notch on the acevo bedpost , if I can be so vulgar.
We are preparing for our Chief Executive Summit next week Alan Milburn MP and former Health Secretary is to speak. We have been talking to him about what the sector needs and he is up to a major speech on the role of the sector. he wants to outline a really radical vision of a strong sector driving social change , empowering communities and transforming public services. It promises to be challenging . And I have asked Greg Clark to speak on the Tory plans . Our members are in for a truly rewarding day . Book NOW ; June 12th .And you even get a speech from me on the need for sector mergers and partnerships with the private sector. If you want thought leadership ; think acevo. Whinging NO . Ideas for change YES.
Feeling fairly dazed I get back to London for an evening with Harvey Nash , the headhunters , who are having an evening of light Opera in St George's Hanover Sq. I'm gagging for a drink , or 2 , but mindful of the latest daft plans from the Home Office on " persistent drinking" ,for goodness sake, I am reasonably abstemious. I'm still fearful of the knock on the door from the local Constabulary after my scandalous" binge drinking with young nephews " revelations in the Sunday blog.
And I still have not prepared my speech for our trade union report launch in No 11 tomorrow morning . Breakfast time I ask you. Inspiring oratory over the croissants . We shall see.
Granny Gertrude Bubb was a formidable woman , at least so it seemed to a 8 year old boy . The long dress and coat .The forbidding hat . Gertrude died in 1960 when I was 8 . 46 years sater I am on my way to the launch of the Conservative Party Plans for the Third Sector at the inaptly named ( it is raining ) Sunlight Centre I doubt Granny would understand the term third Sector , but I suspect she would be hugely proud of her first born Great Grandson.
The Tories were having the launch of their Green Paper on the Sector at the aforementioned " Sunlight Centre * ( a former laundry as my Father reminds me ) , a social enterprise on Richmond Rd. It is in the very Parish where my Parents were married in 1952 as I tell Greg Clark MP , who is the Tory spokesperson on the Third Sector . He mentions this in his speech when he launches the plans with David Cameron. I'm flattered ,and even more so when he introduces me as " somewhat of a Guru for the Third Sector. " I always thought that Greg was very perspicacious.
The Green Paper is welcome . It should be as they have clearly been listening to the voices of sector Chief Executives. They make clear the need to reform contracts and commissioning , the desire to sweep away bureaucracy and to give the sector it's head. Of course in this they are reflecting what the current Government are trying to achieve , but who are finding that reality in local authorities and health trusts is very different from the bold rhetoric of Government support for the sector. Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of the plans is their demand that charities be allowed to make profits....though David Cameron eschews that actual word and talks of surplus . But they are right. We should be able to make a surplus ,which we reinvest into the business ; building our capacity and ability to deliver professional services.
acevo has led the charge on funding and contract reform . We invented the term " full cost recovery " to ensure the state paid the full cost of the contracts they have with the third sector . The Government have accepted the concept as policy . But the Tories are going further . They are saying we should be on a par with the private sector in competition and as able to generate profit . This is counter cultural when most people think of the charity sector as all jumble sales and raffles , rather than professional deliverers of citizen focused services. I am quizzed by a journalist from The Times who suggests this is not a proper function of charity, but I hope I convince her a modern dynamic third sector is entitled to a proper return for good services delivered.
I ask David Cameron about their commitment to third sector service delivery .Their Green Paper says they support more service delivery through the sector but is light on specifics . So what , I ask, is their plan to achieve this ? He says long term contracts and effective commissioning . After the launch I talk to Francis Maude who says they intend to do more work on contract and commissioning reform . I pledge acevo support for this work . They are right to identify this as a major stumbling block to change and this is a message I have been hammering away on with Government.
The truth is the Green Paper does not contain many surprises but the fact that they have heard our concerns and want to take action is a step to progress. We now have to ensure they deliver the change to which they have committed. Actions always speak louder than words. So policies have to be grounded in practicalities before change become real.It is our job to ensure that happens . So acevo will carry on the push for better funding . longer term contracts and public service reform with Government and Opposition .
And as I remind a journalist if they are serious on profit I expect to see the many Tory Local authorities starting implementing this for their third sector clients. We shall see . I tell my folk back in the office we should conduct a survey of Tory authorities in a years time to gauge progress.
They also say they will consult on making the Compact statutory . Hooray . It can now only be a matter of time before the Government and the Compact Commissioner announce this reform . Indeed I understand it was only conventions that stopped the Tories actually saying they would make it statutory .But this is now just a question of how to do it , not whether it is a good thing . And about time too. Another notch on the acevo bedpost , if I can be so vulgar.
We are preparing for our Chief Executive Summit next week Alan Milburn MP and former Health Secretary is to speak. We have been talking to him about what the sector needs and he is up to a major speech on the role of the sector. he wants to outline a really radical vision of a strong sector driving social change , empowering communities and transforming public services. It promises to be challenging . And I have asked Greg Clark to speak on the Tory plans . Our members are in for a truly rewarding day . Book NOW ; June 12th .And you even get a speech from me on the need for sector mergers and partnerships with the private sector. If you want thought leadership ; think acevo. Whinging NO . Ideas for change YES.
Feeling fairly dazed I get back to London for an evening with Harvey Nash , the headhunters , who are having an evening of light Opera in St George's Hanover Sq. I'm gagging for a drink , or 2 , but mindful of the latest daft plans from the Home Office on " persistent drinking" ,for goodness sake, I am reasonably abstemious. I'm still fearful of the knock on the door from the local Constabulary after my scandalous" binge drinking with young nephews " revelations in the Sunday blog.
And I still have not prepared my speech for our trade union report launch in No 11 tomorrow morning . Breakfast time I ask you. Inspiring oratory over the croissants . We shall see.
Sunday, 1 June 2008
The Bishop and the Trout
I was talking to the Bishop of London yesterday . He boarded the train at Charlbury , ( escaping his in laws at Finstock ; the next village to Charlbury ) and I was heading for Oxford. I have been giving support to the Bishop in his campaign to get Government to provide funding to the many rural churches which want to provide better facilities ( loos and kitchens , as he says ) to enable them to be more effective community hubs. The village church in England has always been at the centre of the community ; whether for Church goers or not. As we lose village facilities like post offices , police and shops then the Church could play a much larger role. I know of one Church where there is a sub post office , and one which is used in a police support role. But often funders will not support the Church , either because they think " faith " is too difficult , or because they think Churches have oddles of heritage cash.
We also talk of the appalling stance of Government and politicians generally to crime. Always talking about punishment and retribution and ignoring the fact that most crime is committed by people who have been in prison ; so devoting resources to rehabilitation and to support for ex offenders is a much more effective way of cutting crime. Of course this would not please the Daily Mail so nothing much happens . And disgracefully the Government which had pledged to reform probation and establish an offender management service capitulated to the entrenched interest of the current prison and probation service who are lamentably failing in their jobs. The third sector could do so much better at this but pathetic funding regimes and lack of interest mean little is happening .
The Bishop says he was shocked when he discovered recently that the London Probation service have 45,000 people on their books. What is needed is a root and branch reform . This is not exactly rocket science; if you ensure someone coming out of prison has a job and a home , support for drug problems or tackling mental health troubles ,then a return to crime is less likely.
But I'm just a wet liberal . Far better to pander to Daily Mail prejudices and do nothing but build more prisons and bring in yet more laws .More ASBOs . A new law on binge drinking ( today's crack pot news from the Home Office ). More young people in the criminal justice system . Is there anyone with a brain left working in the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office ?
The Bishop is a splendid chap; witty and erudite , the proper bearing for a high Prelate of the Church as by law established . A truly Trollopian figure in a Church where most Bishops nowadays wear trainers and jeans and expect to be called by their Christian names. Long may My Lord of London continue in his Episcopacy .
I leave my Lord Bishop at Oxford as O am taking my 2 nephews out to lunch at The Trout Inn at Godstow ; a charming 18th century hostelry next Godstow nunnery on the banks of the River Isis. Alexander ; the aesthete and vegetarian , is reading English at my old College , Christ Church . He has already won a national Poetry prize and was one of the team of 4 from the College that recently triumphed as champions of this year's University Challenge. He has just taken finals and we confidently expect a First . Julian is the butcher version , a hearty at Keble College reading History and German. He has recently been elected as Captain of Boats for the college rowing team . They has a disastrous Eights week just recently and Julian indicates he will lick them into shape I'm sure this is true. Bubbs do not like being associated with failure . We are a family of talent , brain and over achievement ( and the occasional eccentricity ).To celebrate his election he was stripped naked by the rowing 8 and impaled by croquet hoops in the front Quad , much Pimms and beer having previously been consumed . He shows me the hoop bruises. Well , well .
We have a great lunch . I discover the Cotes du Rhone is rather magnificent so we have 3 bottles , then stagger back to town through the marvellous open space of the Port Meadow. Get back in time for Evensong in my College Chapel ( it is also the Cathedral for Oxford ) and we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the BVM. Alexander comes with me . Not Julian ; he is an atheist. And probably had an appointment with a croquet hoop .
We also talk of the appalling stance of Government and politicians generally to crime. Always talking about punishment and retribution and ignoring the fact that most crime is committed by people who have been in prison ; so devoting resources to rehabilitation and to support for ex offenders is a much more effective way of cutting crime. Of course this would not please the Daily Mail so nothing much happens . And disgracefully the Government which had pledged to reform probation and establish an offender management service capitulated to the entrenched interest of the current prison and probation service who are lamentably failing in their jobs. The third sector could do so much better at this but pathetic funding regimes and lack of interest mean little is happening .
The Bishop says he was shocked when he discovered recently that the London Probation service have 45,000 people on their books. What is needed is a root and branch reform . This is not exactly rocket science; if you ensure someone coming out of prison has a job and a home , support for drug problems or tackling mental health troubles ,then a return to crime is less likely.
But I'm just a wet liberal . Far better to pander to Daily Mail prejudices and do nothing but build more prisons and bring in yet more laws .More ASBOs . A new law on binge drinking ( today's crack pot news from the Home Office ). More young people in the criminal justice system . Is there anyone with a brain left working in the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office ?
The Bishop is a splendid chap; witty and erudite , the proper bearing for a high Prelate of the Church as by law established . A truly Trollopian figure in a Church where most Bishops nowadays wear trainers and jeans and expect to be called by their Christian names. Long may My Lord of London continue in his Episcopacy .
I leave my Lord Bishop at Oxford as O am taking my 2 nephews out to lunch at The Trout Inn at Godstow ; a charming 18th century hostelry next Godstow nunnery on the banks of the River Isis. Alexander ; the aesthete and vegetarian , is reading English at my old College , Christ Church . He has already won a national Poetry prize and was one of the team of 4 from the College that recently triumphed as champions of this year's University Challenge. He has just taken finals and we confidently expect a First . Julian is the butcher version , a hearty at Keble College reading History and German. He has recently been elected as Captain of Boats for the college rowing team . They has a disastrous Eights week just recently and Julian indicates he will lick them into shape I'm sure this is true. Bubbs do not like being associated with failure . We are a family of talent , brain and over achievement ( and the occasional eccentricity ).To celebrate his election he was stripped naked by the rowing 8 and impaled by croquet hoops in the front Quad , much Pimms and beer having previously been consumed . He shows me the hoop bruises. Well , well .
We have a great lunch . I discover the Cotes du Rhone is rather magnificent so we have 3 bottles , then stagger back to town through the marvellous open space of the Port Meadow. Get back in time for Evensong in my College Chapel ( it is also the Cathedral for Oxford ) and we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the BVM. Alexander comes with me . Not Julian ; he is an atheist. And probably had an appointment with a croquet hoop .
Friday, 30 May 2008
Building our sector's strength
Had lunch with the dynamic and vivacious acting Chief Executive of Capacity Builders , Catherine Johnston ( and her charming side kick Jon Fox ) yesterday. Capacity Builders was established by the Government to help develop the infrastructure of the third sector ; through building strength in areas like leadership , IT , strategic planning ,performance and the like. It has a large endowment from Government and is currently supporting a range of bodies like acevo in promoting professionalism in our sector. They have had a chequered history. The "hub" experiment was not a success. We will need to work hard to ensure its successor , the national support services, works well. acevo is delivering the income generation service with our partners and we are in collaboration with NCVO and Community Matters on Leadership and Governance.
But our discussion is mainly about how Capacity Builders and Future Builders can work more closely together. We have a common interest in helping third sector organisations compete for , and win more public service delivery for citizen focused third sector bodies.
So we discuss work on developing a common scheme between us to support organisations in preparing tenders and being commissioning ready. They have the support for developing capacity in organisations and we have investment funds . There is an obvious overlap . We agree to see if there is scope to run a joint scheme. So we will need to see if we can get support for it.
There is a need for much more collaborative working in our sector . I am working on an article for Third Sector. Stephen Cook , the Editor reminds me I was supposed to get it to him today ; but I never got the original email so now will have to devote the weekend to finishing and delivering it . So less time for the weeding . The garden in the cottage has gone berserk in the last 2 weeks ; the roses are magnificent , but the weeds are in too full health and they must go.
I also interviewed for the final place on the Future Builders Board on Thursday . Kevin Carey is currently Vice Chair of RNIB , and I suspect a future Chair! He also runs a small charity and worked for Sight Savers , a magnificent international ngo , run by a fantastic acevo member. Kevin is a great figure ; looking rather like an Old Testament prophet, he tells me he has been working on a sermon whilst waiting to see me . He has both a great sense of "vision" and a down to earth no nonsense approach . He will be a great foil to some of the top international investment bankers and venture capitalists we also have on the Board . He is blind and we talk about the support we will give him to ensure he can play a full role as a non exec on the Board. I am delighted he wants to join us . We now have a well balanced and diverse board . Good sector people from small and large charities , and from social enterprise as well as some really top people from the City. But it is clear I am going to have a hard task in Chairing a group as talented and dynamic as we now have . I expect clashes of ideas and egos . Still , I would not want it any other way. A challenging and involved Board is essential to good governance. Watch out for the press release next week with all the details.
My poor staff . Keeping up with their CEO . Or sometimes trying to control him . My effective and talented Head of Policy Seb Elsworth has to keep checking my blog to ensure no howlers , indiscretions or other outrages . But he can only do it in retrospect . The other day he came into my office ;
" You're blogging aren't you ",
" How do you know ? " ( Chief executive asks querulously )
" Because it's been very quiet for the last half hour ! "
But our discussion is mainly about how Capacity Builders and Future Builders can work more closely together. We have a common interest in helping third sector organisations compete for , and win more public service delivery for citizen focused third sector bodies.
So we discuss work on developing a common scheme between us to support organisations in preparing tenders and being commissioning ready. They have the support for developing capacity in organisations and we have investment funds . There is an obvious overlap . We agree to see if there is scope to run a joint scheme. So we will need to see if we can get support for it.
There is a need for much more collaborative working in our sector . I am working on an article for Third Sector. Stephen Cook , the Editor reminds me I was supposed to get it to him today ; but I never got the original email so now will have to devote the weekend to finishing and delivering it . So less time for the weeding . The garden in the cottage has gone berserk in the last 2 weeks ; the roses are magnificent , but the weeds are in too full health and they must go.
I also interviewed for the final place on the Future Builders Board on Thursday . Kevin Carey is currently Vice Chair of RNIB , and I suspect a future Chair! He also runs a small charity and worked for Sight Savers , a magnificent international ngo , run by a fantastic acevo member. Kevin is a great figure ; looking rather like an Old Testament prophet, he tells me he has been working on a sermon whilst waiting to see me . He has both a great sense of "vision" and a down to earth no nonsense approach . He will be a great foil to some of the top international investment bankers and venture capitalists we also have on the Board . He is blind and we talk about the support we will give him to ensure he can play a full role as a non exec on the Board. I am delighted he wants to join us . We now have a well balanced and diverse board . Good sector people from small and large charities , and from social enterprise as well as some really top people from the City. But it is clear I am going to have a hard task in Chairing a group as talented and dynamic as we now have . I expect clashes of ideas and egos . Still , I would not want it any other way. A challenging and involved Board is essential to good governance. Watch out for the press release next week with all the details.
My poor staff . Keeping up with their CEO . Or sometimes trying to control him . My effective and talented Head of Policy Seb Elsworth has to keep checking my blog to ensure no howlers , indiscretions or other outrages . But he can only do it in retrospect . The other day he came into my office ;
" You're blogging aren't you ",
" How do you know ? " ( Chief executive asks querulously )
" Because it's been very quiet for the last half hour ! "
Thursday, 29 May 2008
a campainging third sector
Mary Whitehouse.Did you see the programme on BBC2 last night . It was fantastic, and not just because the brilliant Julie Walters was starring. I nearly did not watch this on principle. i was a teenager in the 60s ! To be precise i became a teenager in 1965. And I was well into the sixties. the loon pants and the tie die T-Shirt , ( kindly supplied by my indulgent parents ) and the smelly Afghan coat and the bead necklace I bought in the Kings Rd. What a sight that must have been !
So Iobviously thoroughly disapproved of Mrs Whitehouse.
But what was fascinating about the programme was how it charted the growth of a campaigning third sector body ; starting off with a charismatic leader ( love her or hate her ), a few like minded friends and the kitchen table . the postal orders rolling in ( do they still have postal orders ; my aunts used to send me them for birthdays ! ) and the driving ambition and determination against the odds. I know of lots of such third sector bodies . In many ways this sums up the brilliance of our " civil society " where people come together to fight and campaign for change. Think of Dame Cecily Saunders , despairing of the bad treatment of people who were dying on the wards at St Thomas's and so founding the remarkable Hospice movement.
Or Jo Mitty setting up the first Oxfam shop who said he was driven by , as he said, " rage and passion ; rage because of the inequality and injustice in the world and a passion to do something about it ."
of course I still think Mrs Whitehouse was wrong overall , but maybe she had a point on the violence issue ?
There is also a brilliant vignette in the programme about the Chair and Chief Executive relationship . Sir Hugh Greene , CEO of the BBC does not get on with his new Chair . The Chair instructs him to drop a programme . The CEO refuses to listen . He goes.Oh dear.
Another of our dinners for key players and Chief Executives from the sector to talk about the role of FutureBuilders. A great evening with the likes of Fiona Blacke of the National Youth Agency , Jon Bland from Social Enterprise , Cliff Prior of UnLtd and others. fantastic people doing fantastic things. One of the interesting points to emerge from the discussion was that we really need to be upping our game and persuading state bodies to commission things they don't yet know they need from the sector.Being proactive about where we see services we know we can provide better , rather than merely being the inactive recipients of tenders.
On the way to the dinner I bump into (literally ) the Chair of the Labour Party ; one Dianne Hayter . She is one of the founders of acevo and has had a range of Chief Executive jobs in the third sector. A feisty and bubbly individual who has done great things in our sector . Whether she can pull the labour Part's fortunes around is another matter. She is on her way to the Cuban Embassy ; as you do , and is lost . Obviously I know exactly where the Embassy is ; as I would .i direct her there.
So Iobviously thoroughly disapproved of Mrs Whitehouse.
But what was fascinating about the programme was how it charted the growth of a campaigning third sector body ; starting off with a charismatic leader ( love her or hate her ), a few like minded friends and the kitchen table . the postal orders rolling in ( do they still have postal orders ; my aunts used to send me them for birthdays ! ) and the driving ambition and determination against the odds. I know of lots of such third sector bodies . In many ways this sums up the brilliance of our " civil society " where people come together to fight and campaign for change. Think of Dame Cecily Saunders , despairing of the bad treatment of people who were dying on the wards at St Thomas's and so founding the remarkable Hospice movement.
Or Jo Mitty setting up the first Oxfam shop who said he was driven by , as he said, " rage and passion ; rage because of the inequality and injustice in the world and a passion to do something about it ."
of course I still think Mrs Whitehouse was wrong overall , but maybe she had a point on the violence issue ?
There is also a brilliant vignette in the programme about the Chair and Chief Executive relationship . Sir Hugh Greene , CEO of the BBC does not get on with his new Chair . The Chair instructs him to drop a programme . The CEO refuses to listen . He goes.Oh dear.
Another of our dinners for key players and Chief Executives from the sector to talk about the role of FutureBuilders. A great evening with the likes of Fiona Blacke of the National Youth Agency , Jon Bland from Social Enterprise , Cliff Prior of UnLtd and others. fantastic people doing fantastic things. One of the interesting points to emerge from the discussion was that we really need to be upping our game and persuading state bodies to commission things they don't yet know they need from the sector.Being proactive about where we see services we know we can provide better , rather than merely being the inactive recipients of tenders.
On the way to the dinner I bump into (literally ) the Chair of the Labour Party ; one Dianne Hayter . She is one of the founders of acevo and has had a range of Chief Executive jobs in the third sector. A feisty and bubbly individual who has done great things in our sector . Whether she can pull the labour Part's fortunes around is another matter. She is on her way to the Cuban Embassy ; as you do , and is lost . Obviously I know exactly where the Embassy is ; as I would .i direct her there.
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
governance and professionalism
Off the plane from Cork late. So late home and dragged myself into work for our weekly Director's Group ; where we chew the cud , discuss strategy and what to do about the coffee and tea supplies. Its management accounts time ; often depressing as you contemplate how tight a financial position you are in as a third sector organisation. acevo is lucky as we are in a good position , and have had great success in winning contracts and bids . But you can never relax if you are a Third Sector Chief Exec. As Mr Micawber said ;
"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure 19 pound, 19 and sixpence , result happiness.
Annual income 20 pounds,annual expenditure 20 pounds and sixpence , misery."
We have an interesting discussion on our position on the Sector's Code of Good Governance . This was one of the key recommendation's of the acevo groundbreaking Enquiry into the governance of the Third Sector . It was clear from that Enquiry that the Sector needed to professionalise its governance . The Code is core to that movement .It is supported by the Code's founding partners , acevo , ncvo and the charity trustee network .The Charity Commission now send a copy of the Code to all sector organisations and we are expected to report against it in our annual reports. This is good . But we need to move further. As a sector we have not yet fully appreciated the need for accountability. It is no good expecting people to accept we do good things because we are charities . We have to show how we spend money , account for our actions , be open and transparent about all we do . As we move forward in playing an even greater role in delivering public services , acting as a voice for our members and communities and advocating for social change , we need to accept that comes at the price of being much more publicly open . So one start might be to see how we make the Code used and even enforced by alll sector bodies. Of course the application of the Code must be proportionate and the small community volunteer led organisation will not need to take as many steps in application as the big charity , but we all need to observe standards , big or small.
All this is so obvious I wonder why I'm writing it . But the shame is there are still voices who argue against moves to make the Code more enforceable. There are those who think that all government's and funders should do is hand over money and we will decide how best to spend it. The public sector have increasingly got the message and now take their duty to be open seriously . And if they don't there are plenty of journalists around with their Freedom of Information requests. Perhaps they might extend that Act to us ?
Its like the argument on the Compact . It is clearly evident we need statutory backing for the Commissioner post and possibly for an underpinning for the Compact itself. There is an opportunity to do this as part of the Community Empowerment Legislation that Hazel Blears will be sponsoring in this Parliament . What could be more empowering for community organisations than giving the Compact Commissioner teeth to take up their shabby treatment at the hands of bad government. And yet we still have voices arguing against . It is good to have acevo battling away on behalf of a professional sector. As Chief Executives we need to be at the forefront of the battle for a professional third sector . We should be leading the way on accountability . Setting examples of transparency . And there are many of my members doing just that. We need to spread the word wider.
I went to the rather lovely , if small Church of Ireland chapel in Leap on Sunday . It's the village up river from Union Hall and the walk along the wooded banks was peaceful and a treasured moment of tranquillity. In a country of only 6 million the roads are remarkably quiet. I was reminded of the Gospel reading when I opened the weekly Third Sector magazine to read the usual mix of inspiring stories and utter balderdash .
" Look at the birds of the air ; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life ? "
I guess that is sound advice to a sector CEO ?
"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure 19 pound, 19 and sixpence , result happiness.
Annual income 20 pounds,annual expenditure 20 pounds and sixpence , misery."
We have an interesting discussion on our position on the Sector's Code of Good Governance . This was one of the key recommendation's of the acevo groundbreaking Enquiry into the governance of the Third Sector . It was clear from that Enquiry that the Sector needed to professionalise its governance . The Code is core to that movement .It is supported by the Code's founding partners , acevo , ncvo and the charity trustee network .The Charity Commission now send a copy of the Code to all sector organisations and we are expected to report against it in our annual reports. This is good . But we need to move further. As a sector we have not yet fully appreciated the need for accountability. It is no good expecting people to accept we do good things because we are charities . We have to show how we spend money , account for our actions , be open and transparent about all we do . As we move forward in playing an even greater role in delivering public services , acting as a voice for our members and communities and advocating for social change , we need to accept that comes at the price of being much more publicly open . So one start might be to see how we make the Code used and even enforced by alll sector bodies. Of course the application of the Code must be proportionate and the small community volunteer led organisation will not need to take as many steps in application as the big charity , but we all need to observe standards , big or small.
All this is so obvious I wonder why I'm writing it . But the shame is there are still voices who argue against moves to make the Code more enforceable. There are those who think that all government's and funders should do is hand over money and we will decide how best to spend it. The public sector have increasingly got the message and now take their duty to be open seriously . And if they don't there are plenty of journalists around with their Freedom of Information requests. Perhaps they might extend that Act to us ?
Its like the argument on the Compact . It is clearly evident we need statutory backing for the Commissioner post and possibly for an underpinning for the Compact itself. There is an opportunity to do this as part of the Community Empowerment Legislation that Hazel Blears will be sponsoring in this Parliament . What could be more empowering for community organisations than giving the Compact Commissioner teeth to take up their shabby treatment at the hands of bad government. And yet we still have voices arguing against . It is good to have acevo battling away on behalf of a professional sector. As Chief Executives we need to be at the forefront of the battle for a professional third sector . We should be leading the way on accountability . Setting examples of transparency . And there are many of my members doing just that. We need to spread the word wider.
I went to the rather lovely , if small Church of Ireland chapel in Leap on Sunday . It's the village up river from Union Hall and the walk along the wooded banks was peaceful and a treasured moment of tranquillity. In a country of only 6 million the roads are remarkably quiet. I was reminded of the Gospel reading when I opened the weekly Third Sector magazine to read the usual mix of inspiring stories and utter balderdash .
" Look at the birds of the air ; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life ? "
I guess that is sound advice to a sector CEO ?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)