Ground-breaking new research shows councillors lead the way in working with charities, but they want to build stronger relationships.
A new landmark study from the Law Family Commission on Civil Society has assessed the current state of relationships between charities and local councillors, MPs and civil servants.
The report is based on a survey of more than 700 councillors, MPs and civil servants, as well as interviews and a roundtable with policymakers, academics and charity figures.
It found that local councillors are more deeply engaged with charities than other policymakers – 78 per cent have volunteered and 46 per cent have been trustees of charities.
Most councillors (67 per cent) think relationships between local policymakers and charities are good. However, they are worried about relationships at a national level – with only a quarter believing they are good.
Despite this strong local picture, there is clear demand for further action to strengthen relationships: nearly two-thirds of councillors (65 per cent) think their local authority should be more engaged with the charity sector.
Councillors see a strong element of reciprocity in their relationships with charities, valuing their insights, and their ability to bring people together to address issues in their communities and to signpost residents to local sources of support with specific issues.
However, councillors find it hard to navigate their local social sector and they recognise that local government can be just as confusing for charities.
The report recommends action from local authorities, membership bodies, central government and charities, to build stronger partnerships. It proposes that local authorities should:
- Bring together working groups of councillors, officers and local charities to co-design a strategic approach to joint working, and to develop information and guidance that will meet the needs of each side.
- Review their approaches to grant-making, commissioning and procurement, building on the pandemic experience and shifting away from short-term project funding towards longer-term funding that builds up charities’ skills and effectiveness.
Membership organisations such as the LGA and Solace can play an important role in supporting this, by identifying and disseminating good practice, advice and training about effective ways to collaborate with the local social sector, and successful approaches to funding and joint working.
“Councillors see a strong element of reciprocity in their relationships with charities”
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities also needs to go further to support closer working at a local level, including through: providing advice, guidance and funding for councils to establish link workers or other engagement arrangements with their local social sector; creating a pilot programme of ‘civil society regeneration centres’ in places with little infrastructure or a weak civil society; and ensuring new devolution deals ‘bake in’ the involvement of local civil society organisations.
Charities themselves should focus on improving the sector’s capabilities and practice in the four areas highlighted by this research: setting high standards for evidence; increasing understanding of government structures and processes; improving campaigning and engagement practices; and demonstrating value for money, effectiveness and productivity in service delivery.
This study uncovers a strong bedrock of mutual respect, cooperation and support between councillors and charities. It also highlights the appetite for these partnerships to be strengthened further, and demonstrates that achieving this is eminently achievable.
Action on this is needed from both sides, enabling local policymakers and charities to deliver even more for the communities that both aim to serve.