Reflections from the Labour Party Conference

I've just got back the from Labour Party Conference in Liverpool and I'm so encouraged by the discussions we had and the connections we’ve made.

The message we took to the conference from members and partners was clear: civil society wants to and can be part of the solution to the country's biggest challenges.

From every member of the party we spoke to, at every level, we heard nothing but positivity for better partnership with the sector, and a recognition of the vital role civil society plays. The conversations were open, constructive and full of a shared determination to recognise the contribution civil society makes to stronger communities and a stronger economy.

While more needs to be done to maximise that goodwill and turn it into meaningful change in line with the principles of the Covenant, it was encouraging to hear and feel the commitment in every room.

At our joint event with More in Common, we explored how civil society can help unite and empower communities, from tackling loneliness and isolation to delivering vital local services and creating opportunities for future generations.

The discussion was grounded in new research conducted in partnership with More in Common, which revealed that six in ten Britons face barriers to connecting with their local community. The research highlighted how the public see charities playing a key role in supporting people in crisis, providing local services, and for younger people - providing jobs and improving the local economy.

We made the case for the immense value of frontline charities, while highlighting the operational and financial pressures they are facing. Short-term grants and unpredictable funding make it harder for organisations to plan, retain staff and deliver for their communities. What is needed is longer-term, predictable funding that gives charities the stability to focus on what they do best.

Jess Phillips MP raised similar concerns, calling on local councils and government to better recognise the value of civil society, including by reforming Treasury rules to support multi-year funding commitments for charities.

Watch the full panel discussion on YouTube.

Across all our sessions, there was recognition that civil society underpins critical public service delivery - from health and community transport to local libraries - while also serving as a major economic driver. We urged leaders at all levels of government to move away from top-down decision-making and work in partnership with local communities to shape solutions.

There was also strong agreement that forcing charities into competitive funding processes drains precious resources away from delivery. For civil society to thrive, future funding models must be built on collaboration rather than competition, ensuring full cost recovery.

Welsh Labour leader, Ken Skates MS, argued for tools like local referendums and citizens' assemblies, so that people can feel genuine control over their lives. Demonstrated in Wrexham where residents were able to save their local leisure centre.

The Prime Minister’s keynote speech rightly identified the need to "rebuild resilience in our communities" and create a “new social contract”.

However, it missed an opportunity to highlight civil society’s crucial role in driving economic prosperity. This is despite leading economist, Andy Haldane,saying this week that civil society is the “first pillar” that existed long before anything called business and government did, and how it is the “foundational element of our economy”.

We’re working hard to ensure the government fully understands this and acts on it by forming a deep and enduring partnership with civil society.

Through conversations with MPs, stakeholders, speakers and our members, we heard first-hand about the pressures organisations are facing, the opportunities they see and what they need from government to make a real difference. From funding and public service delivery to local decision-making and partnership working, many of those conversations reinforced the same priorities.

We’ll take that insight into our work over the months ahead - using what we’ve heard to strengthen our influencing, shape our messages, inform our engagement with government and make sure the voices of our members and the wider sector are heard where it matters.