Towards a DEFRA Third Sector Strategy
Response of the rural community councils in Yorkshire and the Humber region to the consultation on “Towards a DEFRA third sector strategy”
1. Vision and Objectives for our third sector strategy
The Rural Community Councils (RCCs) endorse the vision and welcome the recognition that the voluntary and community sector generally and social enterprise needs the support of the public sector to enable them to flourish and to further develop their strengths - innovation, community involvement, advocacy and service delivery.
The RCCs can make a positive contribution to Defra’s Departmental Service Objectives (DSOs) and not simply in creating strong rural communities - they have much to contribute in supporting the DSOs in an integrated way. The objectives for the Third Sector are too broad and as worded would be difficult to measure, and would need to be complemented by clear strategies if they are to be achieved. For example, it is unclear what is meant by the ‘Renewed DEFRA’ and ‘the strong relationship’ needs to be expanded to clarify for both parties what is expected and what would make the relationship ‘strong’. ‘Helping to foster new and stronger Social Enterprises so that their business skills are fully used to help them live within environmental needs’, also needs clear articulation.
2. In what ways could both DEFRA and it’s delivery bodies work more effectively with third sector stakeholders?
We recommend that DEFRA looks at the responses made to the Communities and Local Government discussion paper on the third sector strategy. The Yorkshire and Humber Rural Community Councils also contributed to this. There needs to be synergy across the range of government departments in terms of their commitment to, and compliance with, Compact principles. The key to making this happen is effective communication and engagement, and also a clear requirement that any organisation delivering DEFRA funding has to be fully Compact compliant. This should encompass a pro-active approach from the Government Offices and especially regional DEFRA staff to understanding the potential of working with third sector organisations at the local level. The idea of holding an annual Forum is a useful one, but we believe that effective engagement starts at the local level.
3. Strategic partners
The RCCs agree with much of the content of this section and especially the challenges identified on Page 10. It is crucially important to ensure that smaller third sector organisations have a voice, although we do not necessarily understand what is meant by “usual suspects”. It is important that Defra examine the extent to which third sector representation embraces the whole spectrum of communities and issues it wishes to engage with. The RCCs also have concerns about limiting strategic partners to national organisations, (see 2 above). They know that Defra values the role and contribution of ACRE and the RCC’s, and that they see them as strategic partners in helping to deliver Strong Rural Communities. They believe however, that there should not be artificial divisions between these DSOs and that there is a need for effective collaboration across a range of organisations if Defra’s PSA targets are to be achieved. This requires a commitment to effective integrated working which has perhaps not been evident thus far, and clear leadership from Defra at the national and regional levels.
4. Future grant funding
The RCC’s welcome continued recognition and support for the work they do in supporting rural communities. The ending of RSCP funding presents especially difficult challenges which are resulting in reduced capacity and loss of expertise. The ambitions of Defra set out in the Vision and Strategic Objectives will count for little if resources are reduced too far. Defra needs to consider funding issues in the round - if it reduces its contribution it can expect or guarantee that others will be in a position to fill the gap.
The proposed “greener living” funding would be best delivered by partners who have a national and regional coverage and can identify and facilitate local initiatives which can contribute towards the CO2 reduction theme. The Rural Community Councils, because they are a network of regional organisations and because of their engagement with local communities, are well placed to deliver it.
5. Common goals
1. The RCCs support the development of the Defra Compact Group, but this should recognise the points set out above.
The RCC’s also welcome the commitment to three year grant funding, and the creation of “a level playing field” for potential third sector partners. They believe that one of the requirements for delivering this is the development of the regional Defra capacity to offer clear leadership and articulation of national priorities to meet local needs. The recent period of change and restructuring at regional level has not been helpful; what is needed is consistency and clarity if the new Defra mission is to be accomplished.
The intention to reach out and engage with smaller grassroots organisations to try to ensure that the needs of rural communities are met is laudable and something the RCC’s support; the clearer the messages coming back to government the better. We also think that there is much to be gained from asking how existing mechanisms for encouraging cooperation and avoiding duplication are actually working within different types of rural areas, given the variation in the density of third sector organisations. One possibility would be to consult widely on the theme” how can larger, established organisations help smaller ones to engage more effectively?”
The RCCs welcome the recognition of the existing and potential role of third sector organisations in delivering greener lifestyles. There is an appetite in rural communities for supporting further developments towards greener lifestyles, but are in need of support and leadership. A programme of disseminating learning from good existing practice and innovative developments demands closer working relationships between Defra and the third sector, including the RCCs. There is an need for Improved dialogue and communication on these issues which values an inclusive approach and the diversity of responses to these challenges. In this respect, the RCCs believe that is vital to safeguard the independence of the sector, and to recognise that sometimes it has to be critical of government policy, especially on environmental issues.
The RCCs welcome the recognition for the third sector’s role in reflecting the needs of the individual citizen but recognise that engaging communities on environmental issues is only at the beginning of a long learning curve. Too many messages are confusing and contradictory, possibly because they reflect more general circumstances than local communities can relate to. There is a need to particularise the sustainable development goals to local circumstances. This is why ACRE and the RCC’s advocate local responsibility for promoting small scale and achievable improvements to their own environments. This has to go hand in hand with building trust and cooperation through local organisations, often those in the third sector. Defra should put its efforts into promoting and funding this sustainable way of delivering change.