Campaigning

NCVO and PhotoVoice have announced the launch of the NCVO Members’ Photography Competition 2015. The competition is open to service users, staff and volunteers at organisations which are NCVO members, and looks for photographs which communicate the difference that members are making to their communities.

NCVO today (Thursday 26 September) announced the make-up of the group that will create the first ever set of standards for charity campaigning and lobbying.

Defending the rights of voluntary organisations to campaign and safeguarding public trust and confidence in charities are among the priorities outlined in NCVO’s new strategic plan, launched today.

The five-year strategy follows a consultation with NCVO members last year, and will take NCVO to its centenary year, 2019.

The Road Ahead 2020, which provides NCVO’s annual analysis of the pressures facing the charity sector in the next 12 months, says:

• charities will need to continue navigating changes in the political landscape, as the country moves into the next phase of Brexit
• pressure on charity funding, especially from local and national government, is set to continue
• Extinction Rebellion and other decentralised movements provide one potential model for securing support and engagement from the next generation of volunteers.

Charities have welcomed substantial changes to the government's planned 'anti-lobbying clause', announced today.

The government’s new civil society strategy has delivered a range of positive announcements, but implementation will be key, said the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which represents charities and volunteering.

Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, said:

'I'm pleased that peers supported Lord Harries' amendment on staff costs. Accounting for staff costs remains a particularly problematic part of this bill, as well as constituency limits and the rules on campaigning in coalition. We would like to see further movement on these.

Before the budget, NCVO and Charity Finance Group wrote a joint letter to David Gauke asking the government to retain the current 80% mandatory relief on business rates for charities. We have now received a welcome response which confirms the decision in the budget to maintain this important relief. We spent lots of time talking to Treasury officials about the impact a reduction in this relief would have, and we are pleased that they have recognised this, and the value of the voluntary sector.

Welcoming the changes to the lobbying bill, Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which first raised concerns about the bill, said:

‘Much of the risk to charities from this legislation has now been averted.

Three organisations representing thousands of charities have asked the Electoral Commission to explain its opposition to reform of the Lobbying Act, which contributed to the government dropping plans to make any changes.

In a letter sent earlier today to Claire Bassett, the chief executive of the commission, NCVO, ACEVO, and Bond have asked for a detailed explanation of why the Commission opposed reform.

Following the government's agreement to abandon its plan to change what constitutes non-party campaigning, Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, said:

'The government’s commitment to abandon the change to the test of what constitutes non-party campaigning is a significant step in the right direction. When the new wording is published we will take legal advice and also urgently seek the view of the Electoral Commission, to ensure the revised test meets the spirit and the letter of policy intent set out by government.

Responding to the publication of the government’s amendments, Sir Stuart Etherington, CEO of NCVO said:

"The government’s commitment to address the legitimate concerns of many charities and other voluntary organisations remains welcome, however, the proposed amendments do not go far enough.

Advice from a top election law QC has confirmed charities’ fears over proposals in the government’s lobbying bill, due to get its second reading in the Commons tomorrow (today).

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has today responded to Christopher Snowdon’s report Sock Puppets: How the government lobbies itself and why. The report, which has been published today, suggests that charities in receipt of government funding should not be allowed to lobby and often do not have widespread public support.

Responding to the government’s lobbying bill published today, Karl Wilding, director of public policy at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said:

"This is a missed opportunity to restore some trust in politics. People have a right to know who is trying to influence policy and why. The best way to achieve full transparency is with a universal register, run by an independent body, linked to a clear code of conduct.

NCVO chief executive, Sir Stuart Etherington, has written to peers ahead of the committee stage of the lobbying bill this week, asking them to back key amendments to protect charities and community groups from the potential impact of the bill.

Devising laws that protect legitimate campaigning while guarding against undue influence is a delicate balancing act. NCVO does not believe that the Lobbying Act as it stands strikes the right balance. Further consideration of the types of activities covered, a reduction of the length of the regulated period, and the removal of constituency limits and staff costs are all needed to reduce the administrative burden on voluntary organisations.

Karl Wilding, director of public policy at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said:

"The government made a commitment to ensure that normal campaigning is not inadvertently impacted by this rushed legislation. We will be taking legal advice on the proposed amendments when they are published to determine whether they have met this commitment. We will also discuss them with our members.

Charities, led by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), have written to Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith to express serious concerns over proposals in the lobbying and transparency bill which would dramatically limit their ability to speak out on issues affecting the people and causes they support.

Responding to the announcement by Matthew Hancock, Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO said:

'Charities provide vital insights and expertise which improve policy-making and often help save or better target tax payers' money. Charities are already subject to charity law and guidance on campaigning that does not permit party-political campaigning.