Third Sector
The Government defines the third sector as non-governmental organisations that are value driven and which principally reinvest their surpluses to further social environmental or cultural objectives. It includes voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises, cooperatives and mutuals.
Towards a Defra Third Sector Strategy
Defra has an extremely diverse range of third sector stakeholders ranging from small, volunteer-led community groups through to international environmental Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), waste and recycling social enterprises and the UK’s biggest farming businesses.
We expect that the third sector will play an increasingly important role across the full range of our strategic priorities - through developing and delivering our policies, strengthening rural communities, delivering public services, playing a key role in promoting greener lifestyles and tackling climate change.
Consultation and responses
We will be taking forward the development of the strategy and discussing ideas and issues from the consultation responses in three workshops with Defra staff, our delivery bodies, NDPBs and agencies and other stakeholders.
The consultation invited views and suggestions about the way in which Defra can improve the way it engages with the third sector. We received over 100 responses. The results of this consultation will help Defra prepare its Third Sector Strategy which we aim to publish in autumn 2008.
Think piece consultation responses
As part of the consultation process, Defra agreed seven proposals for ‘think pieces’, that is, articles expressing opinions, ideas and discussion rather than bare facts. Organisations were invited to focus on key consultation questions or themes and provide practical recommendations for ways in which Defra and the third sector could work together.
Think pieces were received from the following organisaitons:
- ACEVO
- Foodaware
- BASSAC/TPAS
- North Yorkshire BME Strategy Board
- Five Social Enterprise partner organisations*
- Capacity Global and the Environmental Law Foundation
- REconomy
* Co-operativesUK, Development Trusts Association, Plunkett Foundation, RISE, Social Enterprise Coalition
We would welcome your comments and views by E-mail
or write to:
Third Sector Team
Local and regional Governence Division
Area 1D, Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
The Third Sector Declaration on Climate Change
The Every Action Counts Consortium launched the Third Sector Declaration on Climate Change on 18 June 2007. The Declaration recognises the urgency of tackling climate change and argues that Third Sector organisations can play a unique role in working with communities to develop practical and innovative ways to meet this challenge and change behaviour. Both the Office of the Third Sector and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs support the initiative.
Third sector organisations are urged to sign up to the declaration and pledge their commitment to adopt plans to reduce CO2 emissions; publicly agree the importance of behaving in ways that combat climate change; work with government and others to support policies for environmental and social justice; and engage service users and clients to make changes in their lives and their communities.
Useful links
Page modified: 5 June 2008
Page published: 16 November 2007