The Sector's Big Offer
ACEVO has been arguing for some time that the third sector could and should play a key role in the UK's economic recovery and in the redesign of our public services.
We know that the third sector can deliver quality services which not only better meet the needs of individuals but also bring long term savings to the public purse. Yet our role in public service delivery is still considered somewhat as an afterthought.
In the run up to the general election ACEVO met with all three main political parties to present the sector's "Big Offer". Since then ACEVO and its members have written to David Cameron MP, Nick Clegg MP and George Osborne MP urging them to engage fully with the third sector whilst implementing cuts and in developing their vision for "Big Society".
We want to hear from you with details of your own organisation's "Big Offer" and how your work not only enriches the lives of individuals and communities but also provides cost effective solutions be it short or long term. Email Carina McKeown to share.
Outlined below are key ACEVO documents and projects related to the "Big Offer". To find out more or to get involved, email ACEVO's Head of Policy Ralph Michell.
On December 1(2009) 261 ACEVO members wrote a joint letter to Alistair Darling MP ahead of the pre budget report outlining the sector's "Big Offer" to government and requesting a high level summit to explore the third sector's potential to help cut the budget deficit.
In March (2010) ACEVO published a joint manifesto with the Social Enterprise Coalition and the Community Alliance. The manifesto set out what government needed to do to support a thriving third sector to play a key role in public service reform and delivering cost effective citizen centered public services.
On March 18 (2010) ACEVO hosted a summit with nine members of what were then the shadow cabinet. The day focused on the third sector's role in public service delivery in the context of looming public spending cuts. ACEVO's CEO Stephen Bubb opened the day by presenting the sector's "Big Offer" to George Osborne MP.
On May 13 (2010) 267 ACEVO members wrote a joint letter to the new Prime Minister David Cameron MP welcoming his appointment and urging his government to form a meaningful partnership with the third sector in order to deliver our Big Offer in the context of their plans building a "Big Society" and cutting the deficit. Since then Stephen Bubb has met a number of key ministers to discuss the proposals.
Shortly after the announcement of the formation of the coalition government Stephen Bubb gave a speech to sector leaders on the "Big Society" agenda and what it meant in reality for the third sector
