NEWS RELEASE
Date: 16 November 2007
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Defra consults on a Third Sector strategy
A consultation to look at how Defra can more effectively work with third sector organisations has today been launched by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.
The 12 week consultation covers a wide range of issues, including looking at how the third sector can make an even bigger difference in tackling climate change, helping to protect the environment and supporting strong rural communities. It also considers how Defra can work best with a wide range of third sector organisations.
The results will feed into Defra’s Third Sector Strategy – a plan for how the department will work with this sector in the future. It will look at five areas of common interest: campaigning; strengthening communities; transforming public services; encouraging social enterprise; and building partnerships. It will be published in April 2008.
As part of the consultation, Defra proposes to involve stakeholders through a small number of ‘think pieces’, each of which would focus on consultation questions or themes and would provide practical recommendations for ways in which Defra and the third sector could work together. The ‘think tank’ pieces would be prepared by third sector stakeholders working together, and include support for accompanying workshops which they would run to involve a wider audience.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn, said:
“Many of the challenges Defra faces – such as climate change, improving the local environment and support for rural communities - cannot be tackled by government alone. The involvement of individuals and third sector organisations is essential.
“Defra enjoys a good working relationship with the third sector and so has a very solid foundation to build on. But we recognise that we need to build our own capacity in order to meet the expectations and aspirations of our third sector partners in the years ahead and to ensure we forge the most effective partnerships.
“I look forward to suggestions for how we can go forward together to achieve this.”
The consultation is published today at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/thirdsector-strategy/index.htm
It closes on 22 February 2008.
Notes to editors
1. Defra has an extremely diverse range of third sector stakeholders ranging from small, volunteer-led community groups through to international environmental Non Governmental Organisations, waste and recycling social enterprises and the UK’s biggest farming businesses. Over £50 million of Defra’s overall funding was spent through third sector organisations in 2004/05.
2. In recognition of the increasingly important role the third sector (including voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises) plays in both society and the economy, the Prime Minister created the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in May 2006 to drive forward the Government's role in supporting a thriving third sector and to join up third sector related work across Government.
3. The Defra Strategy will build on and incorporate Defra’s existing Compact Action Plan and Social Enterprise Position Statement. It will also take account of the work of the OTS, the recent HM Treasury / Cabinet Office review of the third sector ‘The future role of the Third Sector in social and economic regeneration’1 published in July 2007, and the two OTS cross-departmental action plans - the Public Services Delivery Action Plan 2 and the Social Enterprise Action Plan 3
1The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration: final report. HM Treasury July 2007 www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_spending_reporting/charity_third_sector_finance/psr_charity_thirdsector_consultationindex.cfm
2Partnership in Public Services: An action plan for third sector involvement: Office of the Third Sector December 2006 www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/public_service_delivery/
3Social Enterprise Action Plan: Scaling new heights: Office of the Third Sector November 2006 www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/social_enterprise/action_plan/
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Page published: 16 November 2007