Charitable sector 'needs clearer lines and goals'

THE scene has been set and now, surely, it is time for the debate.

Just where does and should the state end and the charitable and voluntary sector begin?

Is government involved in the right areas? Are its expectations right? Does it understand the value of volunteering in the island?

There has never been an informed debate and strategic direction set here - as Guernsey matures, it is one area where the light has only just begun to be shone.

All the above questions and more were provoked by the publication last week of Guernsey Community Foundation-commissioned research by Bristol University, The Voluntary Sector in Guernsey.

The foundation is still to set out its business plan, but has the aim of promoting effective philanthropy in the island - it will marry up funding with the charities that need it.

Its chairman, Stuart Falla, speaks with an infectious amount of energy about his latest project and the research it commissioned - he clearly sees how much difference it could all make if successful and taken up by the right people to drive things forward.

He and fellow business people around three years ago thought they saw something missing in how the charitable and voluntary sector was operating in Guernsey.

The zero-10 tax regime meant that many companies were paying no corporate tax and perhaps could be encouraged to contribute some of what had been saved into the charitable sector.

But it would need a strong business case, not back-of-a-fag-packet hypothesising.

The foundation met the States' Social Policy Group, which was keen to revisit the landmark Townsend research into relative poverty to find out how Guernsey was doing but could not get the money to do so.

So the team that produced that study was commissioned to do the foundation's research - but something that was much broader than a progress report, looking at the whole of the charitable and voluntary sector.

It was asked to look for improvements and try to uncover what the relationship was between the sector and the state.

Focus groups and a detailed questionnaire followed.

There was a desk-top study of relevant reports from the last decade - including looking at other similar jurisdictions to Guernsey.

How much of social need in Guernsey is dealt with by government, and how much by the charitable and voluntary sector, has grown organically.

It is where it is without debate and without a strategic decision being taken. No one knows, or had decided, where the centre of a naturally blurred boundary should lie.

There could be some unwanted consequences if the balance is moved too much in either direction - pulling States support from an operation that is jointly funded by it and charitable donations could lead to collapse and therefore even more government funding, for example.

'How well valued is the voluntary contribution? Is it overvalued or is there a belief that they have always done it so they always will?

'That debate would be worth having. It is not for the foundation to lead it, but we are observing that debate has not happened,' said Mr Falla.

As part of the evolution, there is a need for more clarity in the voluntary and charitable sector.

It does not have the structures in place that, say, sport does.

If you wanted to speak to someone politically about sport, most people know to go to the Culture and Leisure minister. If you wanted more detail but still an overview, you go to the Sports Commission. You want to know about football, you go to the clubs.

So what about social policy - who is in charge?

Few on the street would have heard of the Social Policy Group and be rushing to Deputy Hunter Adam's door.

If they did, the next step is a large one, or more of a giant leap, straight to the individual charities themselves.

The Disability Alliance has created a single body with a larger voice for that particular sector, but no one else has and it could be a model to follow.

Other areas with a common thread could form these clusters that give them greater impact and direction - for example, care homes could group together, as could charities that deal with illnesses such as cancer or leukaemia. 'The report says it would be a benefit if these clusters are encouraged,' said Mr Falla. 'It doesn't mean to say they all need to be part of a cluster, but if we had four or five, they would have a stronger voice able to articulate their needs more clearly with government.'

It is something the foundation is looking to encourage rather than dictate.

'One of the positive things is the report said that the enthusiasm and energy within the voluntary and charitable sector is significant in Guernsey,' said Mr Falla.

There is a desire to work with the States on a whole range of issues.

In some cases the state and the voluntary sector are involved in the same area - the key is making sure the best of both sides remain and their weakness are eliminated.

'The state sector can't be as free in its decision-making processes as the charitable sector. It is bound by the rules of the system - they are spending public money. But just as equally, the freedom of expression in the charitable sector must not be eroded. They need to respect each others' differences.'

Mr Falla said one of the failures in the UK is that they tried to over professionalise the charitable sector, although that is not to say they should not be professional.

Too regimented a regime could lead to volunteers falling away.

In November, flesh will be put on the bones of the foundation's vision for the next couple of years, but already there are signs of what will come.

The research has thrown a focus on the need for more volunteers and more funding - two issues the foundation hopes to address.

'It's a case of seeing what the volunteering issues are in the island, where does the younger generation's working pattern fit, needing to follow professional careers, how big an impact is that having on finding volunteers for supporting organisations, for youth groups, for arts groups?' said Mr Falla.

People are working longer hours and it is having an impact.

'We're trying to look at the whole landscape and see what actions could be taken to improve the situation.'

There are companies, trustees and private individuals who are willing or could be encouraged to provide funds for charities that need them.

'The trouble is the two are not meeting,' said Mr Falla.

'We are suggesting that we might become a broker to that exchange.'

The hurdle will be making sure people on both sides have the confidence in the foundation to let it bring the two parties together.

'We've already had businesses or trustees say to us we have money available, but we're not sure where it could be used to its best advantage,' he said. 'We also have to do some work in encouraging people to be philanthropic, showing people and companies that there are some real needs in Guernsey.'

The island is indebted to those who volunteer for much of the social good that is done in the island - from things like youth groups to health support groups, arts and sport.

People in the sector help keep society together, sometimes working with those on the margins and stopping them slipping into criminality.

The foundation is trying to get to grips with and shed light on the overall broad picture.

Now it is also time for the States to pick up the Bristol University report the foundation has commissioned and to use it as the starting point for the debate it has never had.