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Publications

Shortly after every Westminster Social Policy Forum seminar, a briefing document is produced. This is distributed to all delegates on the day as well as to our contacts in government, Parliament and stakeholders more widely.

A seminar publication provides a timely record of proceedings, and acts as a guide to the latest thinking on current policy issues for those unable to be at the event.

Each publication includes:

All speeches from the day, with accompanying slides and speaker biographies
(subject to approval by speaker);
Transcripts of question and comment sessions;
Supplementary articles from speakers and delegates; and
Event information such as the delegate list and final agenda

Should you have any queries, please email sue.harris@westminsterforumprojects.co.uk.

The Third Sector and the Big Society - practicalities, policy and challenges

PUBLISHED March 2012

This publication is CPD certified

This seminar was a timely opportunity to examine the future for the third sector, as the Government moved forward with a Big Society agenda that depended on a renewed role for charities and similar organisations, and for businesses to widen engagement with the communities they work in.

Delegates reviewed the early impact of the Big Society and discussed what more needs to be done to raise and maintain levels of community engagement - as well as the implications for the community and voluntary sector. With the Localism Act opening up public service contracts to a wider range of providers, sessions considered the challenges and opportunities for third sector organisations, and evaluated the implications of new models of social finance, it included Social Impact Bonds. The seminar took place against the backdrop of the review of the Charities Act 2006, which re-examined charity law going forward, and was expected to cover transparency in funding and campaigning activity.