Westminster Social Policy Forum Keynote Seminar
The Third Sector and the Big Society – practicalities, policy and challenges
with
Dame Suzi Leather, Chair, Charity Commission
Hulya Mustafa, Deputy Director, Decentralisation & Big Society, Department for Communities and Local Government
Nick O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer, Big Society Capital
and
Debra Allcock Tyler, Small Charities Coalition; Simon Blake, Compact Voice; Andrew Conlan-Trant, Rehab JobFit; Nicholas Deakin, Birmingham University and Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector; Toby Eccles, Social Finance; Baroness Howe of Idlicote, National Council for Voluntary Organisations; Ralph Michell, Acevo; Dharmendra Kanani, Big Lottery Fund; Julia Slay, New Economics Foundation (nef) and Bob Thust, Deloitte
Chaired by Gareth Thomas MP, Shadow Minister for Civil Society and Chris White MP, Sponsor, Public Services (Social Value) Bill
This seminar will be a timely opportunity to examine the future for the third sector, and the progress of the Government’s Big Society agenda.
Delegates – including representatives from business, charities and the wider social sector, as well as central Government departments tasked with creating the Big Society – will review its early impact, challenges that have been faced and discuss what more needs to be done to raise and maintain levels of community engagement – as well as the implications for the community and voluntary sector.
With the Localism Act opening up public service contracts to a wider range of providers, delegates will examine the challenges and opportunities for third sector organisations in delivering the Big Society, and the practical and policy issues to be addressed. In a difficult economic climate, further sessions will include evaluation of the effects of new models of social finance for the third sector – including Social Impact Bonds – and the implications for further development of social finance.
The seminar also takes place against the backdrop of the review of the Charities Act 2006, which will re-examine charity law going forward, considering whether the legal framework for charities is “fit for purpose now and in the future”.
Planned sessions include:
- Fresh thinking on the future for the third sector;
- Implications of the Localism Act for commissioning – will the Act create new opportunities for the third sector, and does the third sector have the capital necessary to secure public service contracts?;
- Widening access to investment and new models of social finance – what should be the role of Big Society Capital?;
- Social Impact Bonds – how will bond schemes be evaluated, and does opening up the potential for financial returns undermine the principles of community and voluntary organisations?;
- Taking forward the Big Society – engaging the business sector as well as the social sector, and overcoming challenges for community empowerment and participation; and
- The Public Services (Social Enterprise and Social Value) Bill – what would be the impact of using ‘social value’ as a factor in the provision of public services?
The draft agenda is available to view online here.
Further speakers include: Debra Allcock Tyler, Chair, Small Charities Coalition; Simon Blake, Chair, Compact Voice; Andrew Conlan-Trant, Director, Rehab JobFit; Nicholas Deakin, Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, Birmingham University and Member, Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector; Toby Eccles, Development Director, Social Finance; Baroness Howe of Idlicote, Chair, Charity Law Review Advisory Group, National Council for Voluntary Organisations; Dharmendra Kanani, England Director, Big Lottery Fund; Ralph Michell, Head of Policy, Acevo; Julia Slay, Senior Researcher and Social Policy Programme Co-ordinator, New Economics Foundation (nef) and Bob Thust, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Deloitte.
Places at this seminar have been reserved for officials from the Cabinet Office; Charity Commission; Department for Communities and Local Government; Department for Education; HM Treasury and National Audit Office, as well as representatives from Addicts4Addicts; AdviceUK; Age Concern North Wales Central; Ahead Partnership; Avanta Enterprise; Bates Wells & Braithwaite; Best Beginnings; Breathe On UK; Buckinghamshire County Council; Charity Bank; City of London; Clement Keys; Creative Industry In Salford; Creative Junction; Co-operative Bank; Everyclick; Gardening Leave; Guide Dogs for the Blind Association; Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership; Hestia Housing & Support; LawWorks; London Borough of Camden; Mendip District Council; Mental Health Foundation; Morris & Co; NAVCA; New Economics Foundation (nef); New Philanthropy Capital; Oxfordshire County Council; P3 People, Potential and Possibilities; Pure Innovations; Radcliffe Chambers; Samaritans; Santander; Sarasin & Partners; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Spectrum; Sunlight Development Trust; Surrey County Council; Tellus Mater; The Big Give; The Mulberry Centre; Wigan and Leigh CVS; Winckworth Sherwood; Wishing Tree Trust; Withers Worldwide and Zurich Community Trust (UK).
To book places, please use the online booking form.
Options and charges are as follows:
- Places at The Third Sector and the Big Society – practicalities, policy and challenges (including refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £190 plus VAT;
- Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded individuals and those in similar circumstances are £80 plus VAT. Please be sure to apply for this at the time of booking.
If you find the charge for tickets a barrier to attending, please let me know and we will do our best to see you are not excluded. Please note terms and conditions below (including cancellation charges).
EXP 22.3.2012