In this week’s cabinet reshuffle rising political star Ed Miliband was appointed minister for the voluntary and community sector. He will work with the minister for social exclusion Hilary Armstrong, formerly the chief whip, drawing together responsibility for charities, community organisations and social enterprise.

Former education secretary Ruth Kelly is to lead the Department for Communities and Local Government, created to replace the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister after the removal of John Prescott’s departmental role. Kelly replaces David Miliband, who was promoted to secretary of state for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The DCLG has taken over responsibility for promoting community cohesion and equality, alongside the work previously carried out by the ODPM including housing, planning and regeneration.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations welcomed the shift of responsibilities. “NCVO called for the Cabinet Office to be given responsibility for the voluntary and community sector in our 2005 election manifesto,” chief executive Stuart Etherington said. “Now that this has come to fruition, we believe that it provides an excellent opportunity to create cross-departmental coherence towards the sector.

“This shows that the voluntary sector is high on the government’s agenda,” Etherington said.