In a joint letter addressed to chair of Capacitybuilders Chris Pond, the chief executives of Acevo, ACRE, Bassac, CDFA and the DTA have voiced support for the recommendations of the Durning Report, calling for a full review of the ChangeUp programme and minimising the role of the hubs.

The letter, dated 2 October, said: “In particular, we support the recommendation that Capacitybuilders should provide strategic leadership and coordination of the ChangeUp programme as a whole, taking responsibility for the commissioning and procurement of national programmes. In doing so, Capacitybuilders should actively seek advice from the sector as a whole, as well as the hubs.”

It warned that the hubs’ role had become confused. “The fundamental structural problem for the hubs relates to their multiple and conflicting roles,” the letter said. “This situation, in which each hub is commissioner, purchaser, and provider, has exacerbated conflicts of interest and complicated the roles of partners.”

The joint statement said that after a restructure the hubs’ role should concentrate on advising Capacitybuilders, other funders and the whole sector on strategic priorities, as well as acting as a centre of excellence for the promotion and dissemination of good practice.

But organisations working closely with the hubs, including NCVO, have been critical of the proposals contained in the Durning Report (Charity Times, 8 September 2006). “I share the widespread concern within the sector about the option of Capacitybuilders – a government agency – directly commissioning all national programmes,” said Ben Kernighan, director of services and development at the NCVO. “For this to happen Capacitybuilders would need to increase its own funding, at the expense of the voluntary and community sector, without this decision being open to external scrutiny.”