I am speaking polemically here and not politically, and I am not representing the views of any particular charity either, but what the third sector has traditionally done, is to tackle issues in ways that Government's and Local Authorities have not been able to, and the capacity to do that has often been that they do not share the same priorities or binding ties of doing things in the "proper" way, that the statutory agencies have.
Once you tie the third sector down with a specific Government agenda, then it does become Government by proxy, and as a result of that less effective. At best it becomes only a cheaper way of meeting statutory objectives with a lower wages bill. Once you shackle that with paperwork and responsibilities, that becomes an overhead, and eats resources, never mind instilling a self destructive culture with all the contradictions it entails.
When the third sector becomes the Government by proxy, then there will needs arise a fourth sector to fill the gap and so on.
What academic evidence there is for this postulation I do not know, I suspect there will be some around those organisations that have been forced into particular partnerships through the contract culture, and I expect if this "whatever" is going to come to fruition it will provide scope for further study, kind of like watching what happens when you start loading concrete blocks on top of the leaning tower of Pisa, watching to see how it falls.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:DISABILITY-
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Katherine Holmes
> Sent: 01 April 2011 18:42
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Impact measurement tools
>
>
> Dear Larry, Erik,
> This is an opinion piece by Debra Allcock Tyler, the Chief Executive of the Directory
> of Social Change, a charity that stands up for the many thousands of smaller voluntary
> sector organisations that struggle to respond to these types of government initiatives.
> It's about social investment and the Big Society Bank that the UK government is
> currently establishing.
> http://bit.ly/fa7hPm
>
> Here is the response of Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society:
> http://bit.ly/g8afz6
>
> I'm not aware of specific responses from disability organisations regarding social
> impact bonds.
>
> Speaking in a personal capacity as the trustee of a local charity (not Communication
> Matters which is the charity I work for) that aims to prevent/reduce family problems
> through early intervention I can't understand how the social investment bond would
> work for us. How do you measure the savings brought about by preventative work?
>
> Having said this I do think that many voluntary sector organisations undervalue what
> they do when describing themselves to potential funders and would benefit from
> thinking about the wider ways in which their work contributes to society (the "social
> capital" they create). For example, an organisation could record the ways in which
> volunteers have benefitted from working for them rather than just describing the
> benefits to the people they help: some volunteers go on to find jobs as a result of
> volunteering.
>
> These are my personal opinions rather than those of Communication Matters.
>
> Kind regards
> Katie
>
> Katie Holmes
> Research Manager
> Communication Matters (ISAAC UK)
>
> I work Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
> Tel.: 0115 8781305
>
> Communication Matters (ISAAC UK)
> Catchpell House, Carpet Lane, Edinburgh, EH6 6SP
> General Enquiries: Tel & Fax 0845 456 8211
> International: Tel & Fax +44 131 467 7487
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> Come and browse our Web site!
> http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk
>
> Registered Charity No. 327500
> Registered Company in England & Wales No. 01965474
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: erik leipoldt [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 01 April 2011 10:47
> To: Katie Holmes; [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Impact measurement tools
>
> Dear Katie,
>
> I'd be interested to learn more about implementation of these social
> investment bonds and their impacts of people in need of support. It has been
> proposed for example by Mission Australia as a source of funding for the
> 'third sector.'
>
> SIB's do appear to further marketise care and support where the motivation
> to assist is of a monetary (involving effectiveness and efficiency) nature
> rather than one of social justice, rights or because assisting those in need
> is an inherently good thing, including as a vital buttress to a civil
> society. Is there much of a published critique of SIB's along those lines,
> or opposition on such grounds from disability groups in the UK?
>
> Cheers
>
> Erik Leipoldt
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Katie Holmes" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 4:20 PM
> Subject: Re: Impact measurement tools
>
>
> Dear Sue,
> Sorry for the belated reply. The Third Sector Research Centre is
> undertaking a review of tools and methods used to measure Social Return on
> Investment (SROI). Another useful contact might be Karl Wilding, Head of
> Research, at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. I don't
> think NCVO has conducted research in this area but he has a good knowledge
> of voluntary sector research.
>
> Demonstrating SROI is going to become even more important for voluntary
> sector organisations if the Government proceeds with its social investment
> bond concept.
>
> Kind regards
> Katie
>
> Katie Holmes
> Research Manager
> Communication Matters
> [log in to unmask]
>
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