VONNE

Campaigning

Campaigning is at the forefront of voluntary and community sector activity. The sector has developed out of a need to make changes to people, communities and society as a whole. Issues which groups and charities have got together to address can often be linked to political action and the need to influence a change.

Third sector organisations generally tackle issues in three ways: through delivering a service themselves, by raising funds and helping others to do something or by influencing others through campaigning and advocacy. Most organisations engage in some campaigning activity even if they do not recognise it as campaigning or label it as such. The sector has a strong history of effective campaigning but in a recession this is ever more important. Mike Worthington, Chair of VONNE, spoke at the North East Campaigning Road show in Feb 2009 and said that this is a crucial time for the third sector to demand government support in a similar way to the private sector approach.

Titus Alexander, Head of Campaigning at Novas Scarman, who has written widely on the value and benefits to campaigns, said at the launch of the three-year programme July 2009 "campaigning is a sign of a healthy, free and democratic society, democracy is dependent on the active participation of citizens". Angela Smith the Minister for the Third Sector said "campaigning isn't just political, but also about advocacy, raising awareness and changing attitudes." Nick Hurd, Conservative Shadow Minister for Charities argues that during the difficulties that society is facing the third sector has a role to counterbalance Government.

There is now increasing support for the sector to campaign for example Parliamentary Outreach is actively working with the sector to demystify the mechanics of parliament to make it easy for people to lobby for change and also NCVO has a campaigning programme with useful tools for the sector to use.