Kerplunk and the art of strengthening government civil sector relationships

I’ve heard lots of positive things about the appointment of the Covenant Council over the last week but some comments have made me a little nervous. Comments like ‘let’s hope we can get things started now…’ ‘I’ll be watching with interest’ and ‘The Council needs to’...

We talk a lot about things ‘falling between the gaps’ between government and the sector, people, organisations, concepts.

To think the Council can stop this is to imagine you can win Kerplunk with one stick, even a big chunky stick like the Council.

The covenant only works if the whole sector uses it

The covenant belongs to everyone.

Its success will rest on how many sticks we can build between government and the sector, at every single level, from top to bottom to stop the marbles falling - you get Kerplunk, right?

No one should be waiting for permission from the Council, or anyone else, to use the legitimacy the covenant brings to start driving change. Not being appointed onto the Council does not mean that you have no role to play.

We all need to use it to drive change, whilst this unique window and genuine government commitment exists. The Council may open doors for you, you might use the covenant to open others. Some parts of government are receptive, others not.. yet.

You can change that. Use the covenant, feed into Council how strengthening it will help. We will work to action what we can to support you.

The Council is not the covenant.

It will drive change to the best ability of 12 (outstanding) sector reps, government reps and one chair. We will advise, steer, hold to account, connect some dots, point out levers and where additional sticks will protect most marbles.

We will ensure the Council drives maximum impact. But if the covenant is to be more than previous failed attempts to connect the sector to government in a meaningful way, you need to use it to build lasting sticks.

NCVO and ACEVO (among others) will be working hard in this space in the coming months. Using the Covenant to challenge existing and build new relationships in Government.

We will be producing guidance, identifying best practice, convening sessions about what’s working and what’s not and how members might use it to get what they need.

I’m personally using it to request meetings with new government colleagues and to get into policy design earlier. Mixed success so far, but I’m hearing from others that government seems more receptive: we can build on that.

Add sticks.