One of the responsibilities of a third sector CEO is to consider the future 'shape' of the organisation against the background of public policy in relation to the sector that is arguably changing more rapidly than at any time in history. Some suggest that we are witnessing the end of the traditional "voluntary" sector.
The Audit Commission has recently published two important reports related to the third sector: and together they provide a wealth of contextual information on the national environment, including Government public policy, within which third sector organisations like Paces currently operate. Reading these documents prompts me to consider Paces future and the necessity, first raised by one of our Trustees, for a discussion regarding our business model.
"Hearts and Minds - commissioning from the
voluntary sector" (July 2007) sets out the Commission's "findings on: the extent and nature
of the voluntary sector's delivery of public services; the locally
perceived impact of government efforts to build capacity; the current
state of commissioning; and procurement practice. The report is
primarily for managers in local councils who are responsible for
commissioning services, but it will also be of interest to voluntary
organisations and national policymakers."
"Public Funding of Large National Charities" (August 2007). "Evidence from 12 large national charities shows that their delivery of public
services could be undermined and limited by the complexity of the arrangements
by which they receive public funding." (see Press release).
