The future and beyond
The current Government has not held back in articulating its recognition and value of the unique position that third sector organisations play in helping local people to access and enjoy public amenity services. The Minister for the Third Sector recently reinforced this position by stating that “the role of the Government will be to enable voluntary organisations to deliver services in partnership with the public and private sectors, bringing with them a more intimate knowledge of user needs, the ability to engage hard–to–reach groups in society, and the capacity to innovate in response to unique local combinations of delivery challenges.”
In response to these plans, the Civic Trust, as directed by the National Committee for Civic Societies, is rolling out a modernisation programme to help Civic Societies to raise their profile, become effective across a wide range of activities and, where appropriate to be well-placed to take advantage of new opportunities in the delivery of public services. Through training, support and guidance, this modernisation programme will seek to raise standards of excellence in governance and service delivery; to encourage effective communication and reciprocal accountability; to build a more inclusive and sustainable movement that will enhance the collective credibility of Civic Societies and result in better recognition at national and regional level of the valuable work they perform locally.
