NCVO (the membership community for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England) and ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) are working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to develop a framework for The Civil Society Covenant. It aims to reset how government engages with civil society and create lasting positive changes for charities, community groups, and social enterprises.

We had this note from Saskia Konynenburg, Executive Director of NCVO

Small organisations make a big impact every day in our communities. But we know the relationship with public bodies – whether local councils or national government – doesn’t always reflect the true value of your work. 

The Civil Society Covenant is the start of our work to improve and reset the relationship between government and civil society. It’s your chance to get involved and ensure the Covenant works for you. 

This framework will apply to all public bodies – not just central government but local councils too – and is designed to benefit organisations of all sizes.

You have a unique story to tell, and your insights are crucial. Sharing your experiences will help us understand the barriers you face and make the case for the support our sector needs to thrive. 

How you can get involved

We’ve made it easy and accessible for you to have your say: 

• • Share your thoughts via our online form. 
  • Spread the word to your networks. 
  • Run a session with your community to capture their feedback. 

This is a chance to shape the future, improve how we work with government, and create a more sustainable and effective sector.