From Principles to Power: Making the Civil Society Covenant Work
Keir Starmer speaks at the Civil Society Summit
Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
In October 2024, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport committed to developing a Civil Society Covenant. This will act as a principles-based foundation for a renewed relationship between government and the sector, symbolising the UK Government’s recognition of civil society as a trusted and independent partner.
This commitment prompted a national engagement exercise, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with NCVO and ACEVO. The aim was to gather views on the Covenant framework and to understand experiences of partnership working from both civil society organisations and public bodies.
The Civil Society Covenant provides a framework to reset and rebuild the relationship with civil society. It seeks to establish a new partnership grounded in collaboration, mutual respect, and recognition of the sector’s value. The intention is to harness the full potential of civil society to contribute to the delivery of the Government’s five national missions:
Kickstarting economic growth
Creating an NHS fit for the future
Ensuring safer streets
Breaking down barriers to opportunity
Making Britain a clean energy superpower
It is important to note that the Covenant is not a funding programme. Rather, it is intended as a policy mechanism to shift the culture of engagement between the state and the voluntary sector across local, regional and national levels of governance.
So how does this align with the broader social and economic policy agenda of the current Government?
The Covenant complements many of the Labour Government’s wider priorities, particularly in areas such as prevention, place-based strategies, and inclusive growth. It provides a platform to reposition the third sector as a strategic partner in both economic and social development. However, its success will depend on whether public bodies implement its principles through meaningful actions—specifically in resourcing, fair and accessible procurement, and genuine power-sharing.
For funders, infrastructure bodies and VCSE organisations, this presents an opportunity to advocate for clear mechanisms that support partnership working—ensuring the sector has access to funding, influence, and co-delivery roles. But to achieve greater recognition, investment and influence, the third sector must strategically align itself with the intersecting policy areas underpinning the Government’s five missions. It must be positioned not just as a delivery agent, but as a co-creator of solutions.
This repositioning requires public bodies to recognise the essential role of third sector infrastructure—its ability to reach marginalised communities, to bridge the gap with mainstream provision, and to bring voice and agency to those furthest from power. At present, there remains a significant lack of acknowledgement of the sector’s social and economic value. This is particularly evident in place-based health planning, economic development strategies, and discussions on inclusive growth. Without targeted investment, it is unlikely that the Covenant will lead to meaningful participation or power-sharing in local and regional decision-making.
Independent funders and social investors have a vital role to play. Beyond providing funding, they can help shape the wider environment in which the third sector operates. This includes strengthening infrastructure through collaborative funding approaches, influencing public sector commissioning practices, and building the sector’s capacity to shape policy and advocate for change.
