Evolving a Thriving Third Sector

I sometimes wonder whether evolution is really all its cracked up to be. Darwinists tell us that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor. Darwin’s theory (if I understand it right!) says that complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. In a nutshell, as random mutations occur the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival -- a process known as "natural selection”. Over time, beneficial mutations accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism.

Now, whilst it’s a bit of a jump to link Darwin with some of the work we’ve been doing with the Voluntary Sector at Dacorum Borough Council, there are similarities. Let me explain.

We started with a need to make budget savings (where else do we ever start these days?) and in a spirit of generous even-handedness, decided to share the pain with our Voluntary and Community Sector colleagues. Grants to core funded organisations needed to take a hit but - ever mindful of the need to preserve our reputation (and votes!) we wanted to do it as painlessly as possible. When we’d discounted hypnotism and buying up the entire free press in Dacorum, it became apparent that we’d have to go for the last resort – doing a proper job, involving our partners and being clear about what we were doing.

We visited every organisation and discussed with them their needs, their organisation, their customers and service and what outcomes their work achieves in the community. This gave us a real understanding of the ‘essence’ of each organisation and set us off on a slightly different path. Obviously we still cut their grants!....but at least now we knew that supporting the Voluntary sector was more than just giving funding. (It was interesting to see the range of different biscuits that each organisation provided. I wonder if its any coincidence that those with the smallest funding cuts offered the Marks and Spencer chocolate selection?)

Our Cabinet set up a Task and Finish group to look at other things we could do to support the Voluntary and Community Sector. (See - evolving already!). Cabinet decided that Task and Finish group should be made up of representatives of Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations as well as Councillors (thus breaking with years of tradition and establishing a T and F group that actually F’s something!). The group set itself a nine month work programme to consider three key areas: Partnership Principles; Communications; and (surprisingly enough!) Finance and Resources.

So, amid much furrowing of brows and earnest discussion, we set about the arduous task of deciding what colour our folders should be and whether we’d get our own coffee or ‘order in’. Once these important issues were despatched, we could consider the trivial subject of the future health of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Dacorum. We knew that what we were talking about was a fundamental transformation of the relationship between Dacorum Borough Council and our Voluntary and Community Sector Partners. A transformation that had Councillors genuinely excited and keen to be involved.

What came out of our discussions – and what was approved by our Cabinet earlier in the year – is a recognition that we need to do loads more work on this. A recognition that we need to treat our Voluntary and Community Sector partners as ‘real partners’ – organisations that are mature and respected enough to play a major role in the well-being of our Borough: organisations that have responsibilities, integrity, loyalty and commitment to duty every bit as strong as that demonstrated by the best of local authorities. What Cabinet also demonstrated is that, even though we’re proud of the support we’ve given in supporting the Sector over the past 50 years, there’s still shed-loads of work to do to get anywhere near where we really want to be.

So, what are we going to do now?
We’re going to start with another Task and Finish group! Their remit will be to look at regulation and see if there is any potential for streamlining processes and regulation between the Council and Voluntary and Community Sector organisations. We want to strengthen our Voluntary Sector Compact so it’s a better fit with our Sustainable Community Strategy and Corporate Plan and we’re going to try to develop procurement and commissioning systems that positively contribute to a ‘thriving third sector’.

Other things we’ve been asked to look at are mapping the sector so we understand its extent and complexity and to try and match that against community need. We want to look at new developments around Full Cost Recovery and understand the issues relating to that so that we can make an informed decision when have to.

Finally, we wanted to see what practical help we could give. We’re looking at a number of things such as the possibility of using the Council’s Call Centre and web site as the ‘front office’ for all initial enquiries to voluntary sector organisations. We want to invite all core-funded organisations to contribute to Council publications in the same way as directly managed services and we want to set up a joint training and training-needs programme to improve understanding and joint working between us.

So our work evolved from cutting grants to helping to develop a thriving third sector in Dacorum. Looking at the theory of evolution, I’m still not sure whether the mutations were completely random or whether these ‘beneficial mutations’ have resulted in an entirely different organism. Perhaps not yet but maybe we’re evolving? I hope Darwin would be proud of us!