From youth opportunities to local growth, this year’s party conferences highlighted political priorities and civil society’s vital role.
One theme that came up repeatedly at every party conference was the future facing young people. Questions about their opportunities, prospects and place in society featured across the political spectrum. There is growing political concern about the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
For charities working with young people, this creates opportunities to demonstrate what works, share evidence from frontline services and make the case for investment in support that helps young people thrive.
Volunteering could play a valuable role here too. Charities offer young people opportunities to gain practical experience, develop transferable skills, build relationships and discover interests they might not otherwise have explored.
For those who have struggled in formal education, faced barriers to employment or lost confidence, volunteering can provide a supportive environment in which to rebuild motivation and develop a sense of purpose.
Economic growth remains a major government priority and a key issue for the other parties. But our conversations across conference season highlighted a question that the voluntary sector needs to keep asking: how is civil society being included in the thinking about growth?
In an informal discussion with a minister, we raised the importance of recognising civil society as part of the growth equation. The conversation suggested that there is more work to do to ensure the contribution of charities and community organisations is understood.
This matters because growth is about more than economic output. Communities need the relationships, services and local organisations that help people participate in society, access opportunities and build resilience.
Charities also bring knowledge of local needs and the people who can be left behind when economic development happens without them. The government has talked about collaboration between different parts of the economy and society.
The challenge for the voluntary sector is to ensure that charities and community organisations are included in these conversations, rather than treated as an afterthought.
Many of the issues politicians want to address (from economic insecurity to the pressures on public services and the opportunities available to young people) are complex and interconnected.
No single organisation can solve these challenges alone. Government has a vital role, but so do businesses, public services, universities, trade unions and civil society.
We heard discussions about different sectors working together to achieve shared goals. For NCVO, an important part of that conversation is making sure charities and volunteers are recognised as essential partners.
Civil society bring distinctive strengths to collaboration. They often have trusted relationships with communities, understand the barriers people face and can reach those who may struggle to access mainstream services. They can also test new approaches, connect people with support and provide insight into how policies work in practice.
However, collaboration needs to mean more than inviting charities into a meeting after the key decisions have been made. It means involving them early, listening to their expertise and creating the conditions for meaningful partnership.
The clearest lesson from conference season is that political priorities and relationships are continuing to develop.
Government is still working through its agenda, and there’s more to do to ensure that civil society's contribution is understood consistently across departments and policy areas.
That creates both a challenge and an opportunity. Civil society cannot assume that politicians will automatically understand their role or recognise the implications of policy decisions for their organisations and the communities they serve. Nor can the sector assume that a strong argument, made once, will be enough.
Influence will take sustained engagement and building relationships with decision-makers, bringing forward practical evidence, explaining the consequences of proposed policies and showing how charities can help deliver shared ambitions.
It also means working collectively. Individual charities have valuable expertise, but the sector can make a stronger case when organisations come together around common priorities and demonstrate the scale of their contribution.
Party conferences are a snapshot of political priorities, not a guarantee of what government will do next. .
The conversations we heard this year suggest that there are important opportunities for the voluntary sector to contribute to debates about growth, young people, employment and the future of our communities. But there’s still work to do to make sure civil society is consistently recognised as part of the solution.
We’ll continue to connect our members with the conversations shaping policy and make the case for a stronger voluntary sector, helping to build a stronger society.