18/03/2010 – Third sector manifesto says next government ‘should offer charities better support’
A group of third sector organisations launched a joint manifesto calling for the next government to provide charities with sustainable investment, improved public sector commissioning and a more effective support structure.
The manifesto, which incorporates the views of community, voluntary, and social enterprise organisations, was produced by chief executives body Acevo, the Social Enterprise Coalition, and the Community Alliance, which is a partnership of three community umbrella bodies: Community Matters, Bassac and the Development Trusts Association.
The report proposes that service commissioners should be offered more training on how to commission services that third sector organisations can provide, that more services should be commissioned on an appropriate scale for third sector organisations, and that the tax system should be reformed to support volunteering and part-time work.
Also proposed is a social investment wholesale bank, tax breaks for social investment and more transfers of publicly owned assets, such as community centres or swimming pools, into community ownership.