Press releases
Lords committee expresses concern over plan to charge charities, warns Charity Commission on its board appointments
Committee asks government to explore NCVO recommendation for time off work to volunteer as a charity trustee
00:01 Sunday 26 March
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which represents charities, said that the House of Lords has backed many of its concerns in the report of its select committee on charities, Stronger Charities for a Stronger Society, published today.
NCVO: No further devolution deals without local charities’ involvement
Government should not sign any further devolution deals unless areas can show how the voluntary sector has been involved in development and can be involved in implementation, charity representative body the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) says.
Read more: NCVO: No further devolution deals without local charities’ involvement
Charities and volunteering are at the heart of our shared society
Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, said:
I was very pleased to hear the prime minister’s speech today. She is entirely correct that the state alone cannot solve problems, and that different types of organisations share the responsibility for improving our society, but also that between us we have the skills to make it happen.
Read more: Charities and volunteering are at the heart of our shared society
NCVO: Opening up public services to smaller charities will lead to better outcomes
Commenting on today's announcement by the minister for civil society of a package of measures to help tackle the challenge of getting small charities into the public services supply chain, Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said:
Opening up public services commissioning to smaller charities will lead to better outcomes for the people who depend on them. The expertise of charities helps create caring, responsive and efficient public services.
Read more: NCVO: Opening up public services to smaller charities will lead to better outcomes
Easy-read Good Trustee Guide to support people with learning disabilities on charities’ trustee boards
A new easy-read guide to trusteeship published today will help people with learning disabilities to become charity trustees. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has translated its best-selling Good Trustee Guide into easy-read format in order to provide information about a trustee's role and best practice guidance to people with learning disabilities.
By making the information contained in the Good Trustee Guide accessible, NCVO hopes to help charities improve the diversity of their governance structure and increase the effectiveness of their trustee board. Increasing board diversity is a key recommendation of the new draft Charity Governance Code.
Charities welcome new grants standards
Charities have welcomed substantial changes to the government's planned 'anti-lobbying clause', announced today.
New Charity Commission board members – NCVO reaction
Commenting on the three new appointments to the Charity Commission board, Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which represents charities, said:
The new appointees have substantial professional backgrounds, with decades of experience at senior levels in complex organisations.
Read more: New Charity Commission board members – NCVO reaction
NCVO welcomes new ACEVO chief executive
Welcoming the appointment of Vicky Browning as chief executive of Acevo, Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, said:
I am delighted that ACEVO have appointed Vicky as their new chief executive.
Major overhaul for charity governance code
A consultation has opened today on a significant new version of the charity sector governance code.
The code, a tool to help charities strengthen and develop their governance, was originally created in 2005.
This major overhaul, launched at the start of Trustees Week 2016, sees new and more detailed guidance included in the code, with an enhanced focus on delivering organisational purpose and direction.
Those with an interest in charity governance are being asked to feed back their views on the code. The consultation runs until Friday 3 February 2017.
National Citizen Service should work more closely with local charities, says NCVO
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), which represents charities and volunteering, has welcomed the government's announcement that the National Citizen Service (NCS) will be given a royal charter along with measures to enhance its accountability. NCS has provided positive experiences for many young people and helped them develop important skills.
However, NCVO said that NCS could still do more to work with local charities to ensure it reaches its potential as a starting point for life-long volunteering.
Read more: National Citizen Service should work more closely with local charities, says NCVO