The Leadership 20:20 Commission, hosted by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), launched a series of challenging recommendations yesterday at a Civil Society APPG reception in the House of Commons.

The Commission, established in 2010 following an NCVO-led leadership enquiry, was mandated with setting out recommendations on what needs to be done to inspire and engage a new generation of civil society leaders.

More than 500 emerging leaders and experts from across sectors were engaged through online research and focus groups in developing and testing the recommendations over recent months.

The recommendations launched include a call to open up pathways into leadership to improve diversity amongst leaders, and for those who fund or commission the sector to include management and leadership development components in funding agreements.

The Commission’s president, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, said: “It has never been more important to challenge civil society organisations, as well as Government and Business, to do more to engage and inspire future civil society leaders.

"They will be the leaders who will tackle the fall-out from today’s challenges, as well as address the challenges of tomorrow.

“In a time when civil society organisations are faced with the biggest challenges in a generation, I am encouraged by the way these recommendations look to the future and offer a systemic solution to supporting emerging leaders.”

The Commission’s recommendations will be taken forward by a monitoring panel, to be chaired by Baroness Grey-Thompson, and hosted by NCVO.

The panel will include a group of Champion organisations who will be responsible for implementing the recommendations.

The first of these champions was announced; Skills-Third Sector will champion the Commission’s recommendation to develop a sector-wide development framework.

Baroness Grey-Thompson added: “I am very pleased to welcome Skills-Third Sector as a Champion for our recommendation on a sector-wide development framework. I look forward to working with them, and the rest of our Champions, in implementing these recommendations.”

NCVO chief executive Sir Stuart Etherington respoding to the Commission's recommendations said: “I welcome the Leadership 20:20 Commission’s recommendations as a foundation for how we will develop the support and empowerment we offer emerging leaders in civil society. I look forward to the discussions and changes these recommendations will encourage.”

Richard Doughty, who has chaired the Commission since January, said: “Ensuring our sector has sustainable and resilient leadership is a challenge to every CEO, Chair and Board - but also a shared responsibility for our sector’s partners, funders and Government.

"Developing new opportunities and supporting our emerging leaders is a challenge that should focus the mind of everyone who benefits from the contribution civil society makes."

Commenting on the recommendations, Christopher Kinsella, Chartered Management Institute chief executive, added: “The CMI has been working with the Leadership 20:20 commission to start a debate in this sector aimed at looking at what the current state of leadership and management in Civil Society is, and how we can support further development, training and best practice.

"We welcome the recommendations released today as they are positive first steps to addressing leadership in a hugely important sector which faces the enormous challenges of a static economy and public spending cuts.

“The recommendations put forward training, mentoring and more inter-organisational collaboration which we see as the basics that must take place across all sectors to develop staff and demonstrate the value placed on effective leadership.

"However, although budgets are tight, more must be done and we will look to advise and support Leadership 20:20 in sharing best leadership practice by encouraging mobility of senior staff across sectors and a change of policy to include management development in funding agreements.

"The recommendations detail a clear pathway to recognising and supporting talented individuals but the real benefits for Civil Society and the general public will only come when programmes are implemented which directly impact our current and future leaders.”

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