Voluntary sector gearing up for bigger role in public service delivery (14/11/2005)

18.04.2006

Voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) are well placed to provide high quality public services, especially those that target excluded sectors of the community, according to new research.

The study – commissioned by Futurebuilders England (FBE) – showed that public sector agencies enjoy “added value” benefits when buying services from VCOs.  These include:

• greater flexibility and a “can do” approach
• services that are specialised or are reaching niche groups
• services directed at sections of the community that have been excluded from traditional service provision
• services targeting users who are likely to mistrust business or state providers.

Comments from public sector agencies currently buying VCOs’ services included, “they invest in the community. They pass a legacy onto the community – unlike the private sector” and “they are able to pull together independent and statutory sector players in a way others can’t.”

The research found that VCOs do face a number of barriers to playing a bigger role in service delivery.  A lack of capacity within VCOs to bid for, and deliver, contracts was highlighted by public sector agencies as the biggest barrier faced by VCOs.

FBE Chief Executive Richard Gutch said, “These findings show why VCOs should play a bigger role in public service delivery. Through the Futurebuilders’ concept, we are demonstrating that with the right kind of investment and support VCOs can deliver the very best services - because they have the superior vision, flexibility, community links and specialist knowledge. But they sometimes need investment before they are ready to win contracts and earn fees from public sector agencies. That is where FBE can help – by offering VCOs the finance they need to develop.”

VCOs were also questioned as to how they could better contribute to public service delivery. 96% thought their services were innovative and 94% said they had strong links with the communities in which the services were delivered. All felt they were more likely to deliver higher quality public services than the private sector or government agencies.

The research findings – Investment with a Difference (Futurebuilders’ Learning Report) – draw on independent research and the experience of VCOs that have benefited from FBE investment and are already engaging with the public sector. To read a summary of the report click here. To download the full report click here.