The leaders of four major charity umbrella bodies are calling for the launch of an independent commission into the future of the sector’s infrastructure, which has been impacted in recent years by a funding crisis.

This should be aimed at “rethinking” infrastructure that the sector needs, rather than simply providing short term solutions to “rescuing” organisations in financial difficulty, they say.

The call has come amid mounting concerns around charity infrastructure this year, following the close of Directory of Social Change, and an eleventh-hour rescue package needed to save financially imperilled Reach Volunteering.

Calling for the commission’s launch are ACEVO chief executive Jane Ide, NCVO CEO Kate Lee, NAVCA CEO Maddy Desforges and the co-CEO’s of the Charity Finance Group Clare Mills and Sarah Lomax.

“The Commission’s work should start from the functions the sector needs, rather than the organisations that happen to exist today,” they say in a joint statement.

“It should look at the connections and interdependency between local, national and specialist infrastructure; deliberately seek out the views of the groups and communities who infrastructure reaches least; and set out recommendations for a sustainable and effective future.

“It should review whether there is a case for infrastructure at all, and if so how that infrastructure should be delivered and how its impact could best be understood.

“It must be rigorous, independent and equity focused. It must set out function, form and finance which are fit for the future.”

They also detail a raft of other infrastructure bodies to fold in recent years, including Children England, the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI), the Small Charities Coalition (SCC) and Getting On Board, “as have a number of local infrastructure organisations and volunteer centres”, they add.

“Each closure arguably left charities and community groups without support or resources they relied on; left communities and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) less connected; quietened the voice of the VCSE and reduced its influence,” say the four umbrella bodies.

Coordinated funded

They add that they are already in “early conversations” with funders in how to provide infrastructure with more coordinated funded.

“Expecting individual funders to support infrastructure organisations in isolation no longer works; we would welcome working with funders on a coordinated approach that backs what the sector needs, rather than whichever organisation is closest to the edge,” they add.

In a blog article published by the Charity Commission this week, Liz Lowther, CEO of Association of Chairs, said: “As recent high-profile closures have shown, infrastructure organisations are facing increased financial pressures at the same time as sector needs have grown and become more complex.

“Funding for infrastructure has been shrinking for some time. Charities are having to make difficult decisions about where to allocate scarce resources while faced with increasing costs, and funding for memberships, training and development are often among the first to be cut.”

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