NAVCA chief Joe Irvin has today led a delegation of NAVCA members to give evidence to the Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector.

In his evidence Irvin cited gagging clauses in the work programme as one of the worst example of charities independence being wilfully attacked.

The Panel is made up of senior charity experts and was established by the Baring Foundation because of continued concerns about charities’ independence.

NAVCA members’ evidence is important because the role played by local support and development organisations in brokering relationships between sectors.

Irvin acknowledged that infrastructure bodies can do more to articulate the needs of small charities to government.

In his evidence Irvin stressed positive examples of good practice.

He also called for Best Value Guidance to be extended beyond local authorities to apply to all relevant public bodies and that although the Compact is too often ignored it is a valuable tool.

Irvin told the panel: “The rights of voluntary organisations to campaign is vital to forming good policy and helping the people we serve. We welcome the Panel’s proposal for a debate to identify what makes the sector distinctive and independent and to build a consensus about what would best protect it.

"NAVCA articulates the distinctive value of the voluntary sector and can often express concerns without some of the pressure that local bodies may feel. Our members do the same at local level.”

On the Work programme, Irvin commented: “The Work Programme is a serious concern. The recent Public Accounts Committee report confirmed practices of ‘cherry picking‘ and 'parking' hard to place clients.

"The net result seems to be that unemployed people are not being served well enough by the scheme. We regard gagging clauses as excessive and has the potential to suppress vital information.”

On the Compact, Irvin noted: “Where the Compact works, it can work well. The Compact Voice survey showed 80% of those involved feel the Compact is important. But both the National Audit Office and Compact Voice have found that some 40% of local authorities were not following consultation processes set out in the Compact. Good relationship must be underpinned by a living, breathing partnership based on trust and engagement.”

On Best Value, Irvin observed: “Best value guidance should be extended beyond local authorities, to other bodies like the new health and policing organisations.

"Surely the same ‘reasonable expectations’ that local authorities must follow to respect charities and community groups should apply to all public bodies.”

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