DSC policy update – week commencing 8 February 2021

NCVO’s EDI report

As, by now, I’m sure you’re all aware NCVO’s EDI report, compiled by external consultants, was leaked to Third Sector last Friday. The report found evidence of “bullying and harassment” on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation and disability at all levels of the organisation and also uncovered “overt and covert oppression”, favouritism and “institutional gaslighting” of junior members of staff. Our CEO, Debra, opened a conversation at our organisation-wide weekly meeting, we discussed how organisations could work collaboratively to address the ‘bullying culture’ in the sector, which the hashtag #notjustNCVO has highlighted. NCVO trustee Kiran Kaur also left the umbrella body’s board last week announcing that ‘the change I seek is greater than this role’.

Elaborating on Collaborating

Jay Kennedy, our Director of Research and Policy, has written an article titled ‘Elaborating on Collaborating’ where he talks about the important work of the #NeverMoreNeeded campaign, which charity infrastructure and umbrella bodies have been working together on during the pandemic. He details some of the achievement and challenges of the campaign and gives an insight into how difficult the pandemic has been for the sector.

Tina Stowell says charities ‘must not go out of their way to divide people’

Tina Stowell, the chair of the Charity Commission, gave a speech last week warning charities that they ‘must not go out of their way to divide people’. It is one of the last speeches she will give before stepping down as chair, and you can read the whole transcript here. It is hardly surprising she is accusing charities of damaging the reputation of the sector again, especially following her comments on the National Trust last October.

Latest Pro Bono Economic survey results

The results of latest Pro Bono Economic survey are out and research suggests the sector lost around £200 million in November and December compared to the same period in 2020. These are vital fundraising months and the closure of charity shops and fundraising events drove this drop. This will lead to cuts to services, economists have warned. #NeverMoreNeeded

Must-read Period Poverty blog

And, one of our researchers Abi O’Loughlin has written a blog on ‘Period Poverty’ and how non-profit campaigners continued to push the issue up the political agenda. She writes about the varying policies across UK countries and how campaigns have influenced decision making.