The call comes at a time when the Government is increasingly recognising the value of using not-for-profit organisations to deliver public services - something RNID believes puts the sector in a highly influential position.

Within its major new report, Adding Value to Public Services, the charity presents case studies showing how it has contributed to the modernisation of public services, and how the voluntary sector can become a catalyst for reform.

“RNID has demonstrated that the voluntary sector has the flexibility to work across the boundaries, yet remain independent of Government,” said John Low, chief executive for RNID. “The public wants to see services more personalised to their needs and the Government wants to improve the delivery of these services. The challenge is how these aspirations can be delivered within public spending and service constraints.

“What makes our contribution special is our closeness to the user; our genuine passion for change. Combine this with our ability to manage risk, move quickly and leverage resources, and we can play a crucial role in driving forward public service provision.”