This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Government recognises debt to voluntary sector
18/09/1998
The Government recognises its debt to the voluntary sector, and has much to learn from its experience in tackling social exclusion, the Scottish Office Minister for social exclusion Lord Sewel said today.
Speaking at the SCVO Urban Regeneration Unit conference in Glasgow, Lord Sewel said:
"The Government has done much in the last 16 months to tackle social exclusion. But the voluntary sector's record of achievement goes back much further than that. Your experience is much greater than ours. We recognise that; and we have much to learn from you. We also recognise that, however much we learn, we will not achieve our common aims without your help.
"We are acutely aware of the important role voluntary organisations play in deprived communities. They might help members of those communities who are vulnerable in some way; they may act to support those communities by providing a services such as childcare.
"We support such voluntary activity in deprived communities through the Urban Programme. We are taking this approach forward through the introduction of Social Inclusion Partnerships. As part of that process, we are preparing and issuing an array of material identifying best practice in the field - to help existing partnerships, and the new partnerships we will create, to work in tandem with the voluntary sector and others, and to help identify 'what works' in tackling exclusion."
"The whole field of community capacity, how we can help communities engage with local agencies and others and tell them what they want, is being developed as one strand of our 'New Deal for Communities'. As a first step, we will be holding a seminar, in November, to look at current best practice and to map out the way forward."
Publication in the autumn of a Compact between Government and the voluntary sector would underpin the relationship between the sectors.
The Minister also invited the voluntary sector to join in the process of developing the future direction of Government action on exclusion. "Action on exclusion will only work if it is comprehensive and coherent: the idealised 'joined-up solutions to joined-up problems'. This is where voluntary organisations have a crucial role to play. They can tell us what is working, and what is not working; where we could do more, and where we could get more out of what is being done."
"The Scottish Social Inclusion Network has been helping the Government develop its strategy for promoting social inclusion. You can all join in that process. Network papers - including drafts of the Government's social inclusion strategy - are available to anyone who is interested. We will also be placing them on the Scottish Office website, along with an invitation to comment, in whatever way you see fit, whenever is convenient to you. I would encourage you to take up that opportunity: we want to hear what you think."
BACKGROUND
Today's Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) conference was held at the St Francis Centre in Glasgow and was called "All inclusive - harnessing the voluntary sector's experience of tackling social exclusion in Scotland's urban areas".
News Release: 1871/98
September 18, 1998