UK National Audit Office - Conferences - Working with the Third Sector

UK National Audit Office - Conferences - Working with the Third Sector: "National Audit Office Conference
Working with the Third Sector – 30 June 2005

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London

The National Audit Office (NAO) conference ‘Working with the Third Sector’ was held on 30 June 2005 at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, central London. The conference launched the NAO report ‘Working with the Third Sector’, published on 29 June. The conference and report highlighted that substantial improvements are needed in the way government departments provide funding to Third Sector Organisations (TSOs), sometimes referred to as Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) to deliver public services.

A 2002 Treasury Review made numerous recommendations aimed at improving funding practices relating to TSOs. These recommendations have in the main been implemented, but this action has not been enough to bring about a widespread and substantive change in government funding practices. The government has committed itself to increasing the involvement of TSOs in public services. The report and conference emphasised that further progress is dependent on departments’ willingness to embrace new ways of working with the sector and to embed new practices across their funding streams. Meanwhile, third sector organisations also have a responsibility to improve their understanding and management of their funding."