By Becky Lawton, Events Manager
A year ago today, we brought together 150 charities and 17 politicians for a landmark event to set out a vision for the relationship between charities and a potential Labour government.
In his keynote speech, Keir Starmer called for a ‘reset’ in the civil society-government relationship, pledging a mission-led Labour government rooted in collaboration with the charity sector. The event’s central theme was ‘partnership’, sparking enthusiasm among attendees as they explored how collaboration could tackle the country’s pressing challenges.
Politicians and six shadow cabinet members including Wes Streeting and Yvette Cooper, engaged with charity leaders to understand grassroots insights and the trust charities hold within communities. Charity leaders sought clarity on Labour’s vision of partnership and how their expertise could be used effectively.
Strategic conversation revolved around how government and civil society could empower each other and be mutually accountable, while focused panels explored the role of civil society in the delivery of three of Labour’s missions:
Build an NHS fit for the future
Take back our streets
Break down barriers for opportunity
These panels brought together shadow cabinet members and charity leaders working on the ground to discuss actionable solutions in these critical policy areas.
Following the General Election, we were pleased to see that many new MPs had experience in the charity sector.
A closer look at the Cabinet showed that Starmer had appointed eight cabinet members with charity sector experience—a fourfold increase compared to the previous government. While this didn’t guarantee change, it offered an encouraging foundation. These leaders’ understanding of social sector challenges, from funding complexities to governance issues, created a strong basis for delivering on the summit’s ambitions.
This autumn, we saw the government take steps to formalise the partnership with civil society that Starmer was hopeful for in his speech.
A new Civil Society Covenant was being developed in collaboration with NCVO and ACEVO. Its ambition is to set out how Starmer’s government aims to work ‘hand-in-hand’ with charities to harness their innovation, dynamism, and trusted community reach. It is underpinned by four principles: transparency, recognition, participation, and partnership.
Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, outlined the vision for the Civil Society Covenant at PBE’s Civil Alliance event in November 2024, which focused on strengthening ties between the civil service and civil society.
The formal introduction of the Covenant is planned for the spring, and thousands of charities will be eager to find out how it works in practice.
But as Starmer said at the Summit a year ago, “the door is open” – and it remains so today. With a shared commitment to collaboration, both government and charities have the chance to deliver the positive change our society so urgently needs.
And conversations are continuing across Westminster – we look forward to holding an event later this year that explores the future relationship between Conservatives and civil society.
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