The Durning Report, commissioned by Capacitybuilders to review the delivery of the ChangeUp programme through the national hubs of expertise, also recommends that the government agency should refocus the direction of the programme with a stronger focus on users and on celebrating good practice within the sector.

The report said there should be more emphasis on the leadership of change, with a higher profile given to the Leadership Centre. It also called on the organisation to draw up guidelines on the role of the national programme in delivery to the frontline, relating to voluntary and community organisations in consultation with the sector.

But proposals for the body to take responsibility for national programmes have already met with fierce criticism. “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.

“I feel strongly that Capacitybuilders should focus on its responsibility to demonstrate excellence as an engaged funder of capacity building for the voluntary and community sector. The sector, not government, best understands its own support needs.”

Chair of Capacitybuilders Chris Pond welcomed the independent consultant’s report. “Her analysis shows that if we are to achieve the vision for a transformed voluntary and community sector by 2014 then there will need to be a change in the way national services are delivered to voluntary and community organisations,” he said. “Such services need to be more responsive to the needs of the sector, more flexible and easily accessible. The report had also made it clear that the sector wants Capacitybuilders to take a more strategic role and the board is willing to rise to this challenge.”