General Election 2019
Manifesto Mashup: General Election 2019
We've read through the manifestos of three political parties, so you can get right to the bits you're most interested...
Five decisions the next government should take to support charities
Jay Kennedy, Director of Policy and Research at DSC, lists a few things he'd like to see from the next...
Election 2017
Keep calm and carry on campaigning – but government must reform the Lobbying Act!
New research adds further hard-nosed evidence to the widely held view across the sector that the Lobbying Act must be...
Manifesto Mashup!
3 UK wide parties with significant representation. 3 manifestos between 70-80 pages. Sounds a little daunting? We've condensed lots of...
The many reasons not to worry* about the ‘Lobbying Act’
It’s election time (again! really!), and if you're worried about the so-called ‘Lobbying Act’ here's why you shouldn't be.
Keep calm and carry on campaigning!
We mustn’t be muzzled, or muzzle ourselves.
Brexit and the impact on charities
Six months to Brexit – cliff edge, rocky road, or sunny uplands for charities?
It’s getting to crunch time in the Brexit negotiations with just over six months left to settle the Withdrawal Agreement...
UK charities face Brexit funding cliff edge of more than £250m
Fresh research published by the Directory of Social Change (DSC) reveals that UK charities risk losing at least £258.4m in...
Brexit Briefing: what charities can do
This briefing sheds light on the fallout of the decision to leave the EU, and assists charities and community groups...
What we've said
Election 2015
Election Outcome: What challenges and opportunities are on the horizon?
Is the election result good or bad for the charity sector? In light of increased scepticism in the sector and...
Commissioning
Civil Society Strategy – does government really get that Grants are Good?
What is the issue? The relation between income that the sector receives from grants vs. contracts is completely lopsided. Contracts...
Is it just a matter of time until we have a voluntary sector Carillion?
Our Policy team discuss whether the charity sector should be re-thinking the role of grants in the wake of Carillion.
DSC response to OCS green paper on ‘Modernising Commissioning’
In January 2010, DSC responded to a consultation from the Office for Civil Society on a government Green Paper on...
Towards a Fair Deal on Grants: DSC response to Cabinet Office consultation on ‘doing more with less’
In 2010 DSC responded to an Office for Civil Society consultation on voluntary sector commissioning. Although this happened some time ago we feel...
Political strategy towards the Voluntary Sector
New Civil Society Strategy – too many roadblocks on the way to success left untouched
There has been recently no lack of official reports that set out ideas on how to improve the life of...
Dear government: don’t reinvent the wheel - let it work for you!
Government has consulted the sector on its new Civil Society Strategy. It asked for your views about policies for civil...
Take five minutes to give government your two bits about grants!
Government wants your views about policies for civil society. Let them know what you think about grants. We have prepared...
Autumn Budget 2017: a scandal of critical social needs left unaddressed
Our Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Daniel Ferrell-Schweppenstedde gives an in-depth view into what last week's budget means for the...
Budget 2017 preview: 5 things we’ll be looking for in the red briefcase
Ahead of the Budget, our Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Daniel Ferrell-Schweppenstedde shares what we should be looking out for.
DSC Response to Labour Party Policy Review Consultation: ‘Renewing our Bond with the Third Sector’
The Labour Party has carried out this consultation “to review and strengthen the relationship between Labour and charities, and to hear...
DSC Response: Conservative Party Policy Green Paper 'A Stronger Society: Voluntary Action in the 21st Century'
In June 2009, the Conservative party, then in opposition, conducted a consultation with the sector to which we responded. We...
DSC response to OCS consultation ‘Supporting a Stronger Civil Society’
In January 2011, DSC responded to a consultation from the Office of Civil Society on its role in supporting the...
Sub-sector policy issues
Why the Oxfam scandal is relevant to all charities
We’ve heard a lot about the scandal involving Oxfam and other aid charities lately. But is this just about Oxfam,...
Is it just a matter of time until we have a voluntary sector Carillion?
Our Policy team discuss whether the charity sector should be re-thinking the role of grants in the wake of Carillion.
HM Government Local Welfare Provision Consultation: DSC response
In November 2014 we responded to a consultation on local welfare provision. DSC has a long standing interest in local...
DSC research on the state of individual giving
In March 2011, in addition to our response to the governments 'Giving green paper' DSC submitted research evidence on individual...