In a move to redefine the relationship between the government and civil society, the UK government has announced the launch of a Civil Society Covenant. This framework, spearheaded by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, aims to place charities and community groups back at the heart of national decision-making. The Covenant is a result of increasing recognition of the essential role that civil society plays in tackling societal challenges—from healthcare to community support.
The Covenant is structured around four key principles: Recognition, Partnership, Participation, and Transparency. These principles are designed to foster a more collaborative and equal relationship between government and civil society, ensuring that charities and community groups are treated as trusted partners in policy-making and service delivery. The framework will involve extensive consultation with the voluntary sector, led by organisations like the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) and ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations).
This initiative follows the recognition that the previous “Compact” framework did not fully meet the needs of civil society, as partnerships with the government were often transactional rather than collaborative. The Covenant seeks to avoid the same pitfalls by creating a more engaged and mutually beneficial relationship. Lisa Nandy stressed that civil society’s ability to innovate and solve deep-rooted problems is crucial to national recovery and growth.
The government plans to engage with a wide range of organisations across the country, including smaller charities and community-led initiatives, with an aim to finalise the Covenant in early 2025. This renewed focus on civil society comes at a time when the sector is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic and grappling with the cost-of-living crisis .
The Covenant represents a hopeful step toward a more inclusive, effective partnership, but much of its success will depend on how it is implemented and whether it can address the real challenges civil society faces today. Organisations are encouraged to participate in consultations to ensure their voices shape this new framework.
It is crucial that Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) are given a central role in shaping the Civil Society Covenant. DPOs, being led by and for Disabled people, are best positioned to represent the real challenges that Disabled individuals face, ensuring their voices are heard authentically. There is a longstanding concern that some charities tend to ‘speak for’ Disabled people rather than empowering them to advocate for themselves. By prioritising the inclusion of DPOs, the Covenant can address this gap, ensuring that policies reflect the lived experiences of Disabled people, rather than being filtered through organisations that may not fully understand the barriers they face. Ensuring DPOs’ active involvement will be key to building a more inclusive and equitable partnership that truly reflects the needs of all sections of society.