Diary

Ed Miliband caught me smoking

Tuesday 26-02-2008

Last week The Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband M.P. Minister of the Cabinet Office, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told 650 people I smoked!  My humiliation knows no bounds.  Ed also said, he respected and trusted our sector he wanted government and the Third Sector to be partners in change and encouraged us to “bit the hand that feeds us”! Frankly all things considered I don’t care about that, the man told 650 of I hope my peers that I smoked.

Despite my ritual humiliation, the NCVO conference on Civil Society last week was fabulous!  A Conference that gave me great hope for the future and a sense that if the Third Sector play our cards right, at last our sector will join the top table.

Ed Miliband’s keynote and Oliver Letwin’s closing speech at the NCVO conference left me in no doubt that the Labour and Conservative Parties view our sectors potential relationship with them quite differently.

As a Minister, Ed is a thoughtful, compelling and honest advocate for the Third Sector.  The chap gets us.  Mr Miliband spoke of The Government and the Third Sector being partners and not rivals, that our relationship should be founded on mutual respect and the challenges we will be facing concerning social justice. It seems to me that Ed is justifiably challenged by many of the most pressing social issues of this country and in intellectual and policy terms, is genuinely seeking to re-define the relationship Government has with our sector. Ed in my opinion is a big time supporter of devolved, grass roots interventions, putting it crudely a power to the people sort of guy. A Government of facilitators and of funders, working to encourage social change.  But most importantly a Government charged with creating the political and policy catalysts that will tackle so many of our quintessentially 21^st century problems. Social Change by citizens for citizens sort of thing.

Oliver Letwin also seems also to mean business. The Conservatives are searching for a new philosophical framework to build what they consider a new social consensus. Three times over the last month I have heard senior Tories talk about Edmond Burke. David Cameron told a room full of journalists two weeks ago that he “travels back to Burke” when searching for the politics of social change.  Some may consider this the same old same old from the Tories, Burke being the Father of Modern Conservatism and all that. The Conservatives however are thinking big, I feel it likely their social consensus agenda will go big on personal liberty and will I should imagine focus on the tyranny of the “brutal mob” (those that are perpetrating anti-social behaviour) and how the Tory government and its authority / authorities can turn back the tide.

These are two very different views of the world; one of these views will dominate the next 10 years of the Third Sectors existence. We do have a trump card though, as very senior politicians Ed Miliband and Oliver Letwin understand that without the Third Sector the social fabric of this nation would disintegrate. It would leave The Government, any Government bewildered and pretty much impotent. Knowing this to be true, what power our sector could wield if only we acted in unison.   

   

Ed Miliband and Oliver Letwin are writing their respective manifestos for the next election and both of them turned up and set out their stall. Rightly so, for decades, indeed centuries, this sector has done what I heard one delegate call “our nation’s dirty work”. Toiled to carve out a good society, a civilised society, we are the backbone of this nation’s civil society.   

 

We must set out our stall and that stall must be a united stall. So NCVO, where now? On that note I am off for a cigarette!

Emma-Jane Cross | Chief Executive, Beatbullying 

Mentor Britain

12 February 2008

A year ago the much discussed and despoiled Unicef Report on the state of our world’s children was published. Inevitably it was met with nationwide wringing of hands and perplexed indignation. According to UNICEF, British children were among the least healthy, the least educated, the least happy and the most at risk in the developed world…many of us, rightly so, felt ashamed, worried and dispirited.

It was revealed, with what seemed like great media merriment, that: young Britons do not trust their peers, do not feel respected, and do not talk to their parents. They take too many risks with their sexual, physical and mental health.

As pointed out by ministers, and fairly so, the findings were significantly out of date, much of the ethnographic work was undertaken five years ago.  The findings did not place in context or measure the impact of policy innovations such as the 1300 Sure Start Centres; the considerable increases in Child Benefit; the 1,100 new schools; the personalised learning of 600,000 children that is benefiting some of the most disengaged and hard to reach young people in the UK.

Much more importantly the hysteria that met the report did not, as usual, tell the truth about young Britons. Millions of kids, despite constant demonisation, live positive lives: they work hard and do well at school. They have strong and loyal friendships and protect and love their siblings.  Young Britons volunteer in their local community, assisting and supporting older people, working on conservation projects, attending school, doing well in exams, carrying hope, talking and generally holding society in respect and making a contribution. They have never seen the inside of a police station and they never will. They don’t carry guns or knives.  They experiment with drugs and alcohol, but they don’t binge drink or spiral into drug abuse.  They take their sexual health very seriously, but they also fall in love and sometimes make mistakes. 

They have strong views on poverty, the environment, on immigration, on human rights… and I know because I have worked with thousands of children and young people.  They love this country: they are all proud to be British and have great hope for the future.

The lives of our children and young people are better today than they were 10 years ago. If UNICEF was to repeat the survey today, I believe the results would be very different. They would, however, still not make for comfortable reading. Our children are besieged by society, government and media representations of adult fear, mistrust and worry over the UK’s dangerous, violent and criminal youth. A generation is being caricatured as being too busy to make a contribution because they are mugging the elderly, truanting, failing exams, carrying knives, graffing, fighting and generally holding society to ransom. God forbid they stand on street corners in groups.  This nonsensical caricature is an offensive, simplistic and fictitious representation of our children.

Children and young people are bombarded with the rhetoric of “turn that music down”, “pull those jeans up”, “what have you had pierced?”, “don’t stand on that street corner”.  Hoodies are symbols of fear and imminent violence, of failing schools, falling standards, anti-social behavior.  We demand that young people “never ever get angry” and “respect” adults because I say so, be thinner, be fatter or eat this, but don’t eat that, of sex equals STDs and unwanted pregnancies, with the tax payer footing the benefit bill. We throw up our hands in mock surprise that the aspirations of our children are reduced to the desire to be a model or a gangster.   

If, in 10 years time, when UNICEF publish again the UK still fares badly it will be because The Government has not had the foresight or the courage to get their hands really dirty and sort this out.

Four things, if addressed and resourced could, continue the process of reclaiming the streets, the ambitions and hope of our children and young people. Firstly, cabinet ministers, especially younger members, need to commit to countering the rhetoric of negativity constantly being spewed at our young people.  If all of us spent as much time praising and highlighting the great achievements of our young people as we do condemning the vile behaviour of the very few, children may not feel so isolated.  This can be done. The Labour movement has successfully shifted cultures since it was founded. Think only of the trade union or anti-racist movement, equal pay, the minimum wage or human rights, radical cultural change is what we do.  

Secondly, acknowledge (even in private) that the stick will not work.  It hasn’t worked, ever. It will not work with young people and families that are so often feeling left behind and excluded.  Let’s please call it like it is, there is absolutely no empirical evidence of note that the stick can shift cultures.  None. I know I keep on saying it, I have worked with disengaged young people and their families for 15 years now. The stick is pointless young people are contemptuous of ASBO’s, of parenting orders & contracts and of behavior contracts.

Thirdly, bring back the extended family but a 21^st century version. Set-up and resource a nation-wide mentoring/support scheme, (Mentor Britain PLC) for children, young people, families and lone adults: A network of citizens, young and old, to support and sustain each other.  Imagine mentoring for single mums by single mums on a deprived estate in Manchester or London.  A locally-based network of women who are living similar lives, experiencing similar problems, trained and supported to assist each other, and their children and living just around the corner!  Imagine again, an army of older people networked to support and assist each other and even more radical young people, to work together to discuss and find solutions to some of their fears both actual and perceived. Imagine again mentors (old and young) for every young person across this nation in, and outside of school, properly trained to support and sustain each other’s emotional well being.   Then Imagine finally all three networks plus others working together ensuring better understanding, and watching out for, guiding and mentoring our young people because they know it to be their civic duty.      

This isn’t neighbourhood watch or tenants’ associations. It is best seen as “UK Citizens Anonymous… Hello! I am a UK citizen and I need some support please”. (I obviously jest, but hope I make my point). 

Fourthly, (I would say this wouldn’t I?) partner with the Third Sector and the private sector to deliver this.  Don’t rely on the over-burdened teacher, social worker or health worker. There is a legion of skilled, voluntary sector organisations who can assist The Government in building the ever-important communities and families that can raise our young people and would take great pride in returning this nation to a new 21^st century extended family. 

Emma-Jane Cross | Chief Executive, Beatbullying      

   

   

The importance of charities in our society

22 January 2008

Public benefit and charities worry me... not however, because I agree or necessarily care about the on-going obsession with Independent Schools.  Wee bit of a red herring, I feel.

I, too, believe in the dynamism of charities, indeed, if the third sector were to down tools, the very social fabric of this country would disintegrate.  Why then are charities resisting with such gusto and combined voice the introduction of public benefit measures?

They worry me because the new measures don’t go far enough.  Our sector must embrace the notion and expectation of strict, transparent evaluation and assessment.  Instead, the mere mention of universal measures which clarify social returns, how in the real world we benefit, assist and support the vulnerable and the disengaged seems to terrify the sector. Even a quick enquiry from the Charities Commission which is all that is really being introduced, seems to have some mortified and indignant.

Of what? Donors, stakeholders, service users, and yes government have an absolute right to enquire into the state of the nation’s charities. Charities have an ethical duty to answer. Are we competent?  Are we working toward and delivering public benefit?  Who funds us and how (explicitly) we spend the cash?  How do we actually know we are delivering? Who is checking we are? How do we measure social returns?  And importantly, why are thousands of charities, (even the majority?) not measuring social value and outcomes.

As taxpayers, as individuals working in the sector, as citizens, we often and rightly seek similar clarification from our representatives and our government.  It is important we understand how our tax pound is being spent.  Many of us also feel it critical that the private sector avail us of the details of their investment portfolios, just so we can choose to boycott if we disagree with whom and in what they are investing their profits. 

Surely if we expect (or lobby hard) for transparency and truth from our legislators, the corporate sectors and even (perversely in the age of twenty-four hour news) our celebrities, why not us?  Minister, don’t take this nonsense from us! If charities are to take their rightful place at the top of the policy table, then we’d better make sure we know damn well we are delivering!

Emma-Jane Cross | Chief Executive, Beatbullying

Its my bithday and I'll cry if I want to

Penblwydd Hapus i chi!
Yes folks, it's that time of year again, where I have to blow candles out on cakes and the staff are lovingly making me eat loads of e' numbers. Actually had a brill birthday although Im in work which kind of goes against the grain.. that's deadlines for you. Mr Quincy kindly stayed in the office to help me finish off my Children In Need application to make it brillo. Also a warm welcome to Catherine who is joining my team today to work on corporate stuff - we had all that 'my computer isn't working' stuff this morning, so I had to put my IT hat on, not very good I know, but its all fine now. Out of the frying pan......
Christmas is just around the corner which frightens me a bit, so much to do and not much time to do it before we all break up - before we know it, we'll be asking ourselves where it went!
Looking forward to another party on Friday - our annual BB Xmas Party on Friday where the competition will hot up to become categories champions.... can't wait!
Righto must sign off now, loads to do before I go home for a slap up dinner and to be waited on hand and foot.....

PJ

what is going on?!

Morning,

Big day today!Got Islington starting tonight and Pete's got a fundraising bash in Belgravia.

AB Week is nearly over. I am knackered.

Dad just called me from Singapore to say he got my Channel 5 news clip and thought it was boss....my dads' like that!

BBSports launched officially yesterday at Edenham High School and cheers to Fran BAker for being a great help!!!

JQ

Lonely

Boy, this blog is a lonely experience. Where is everyone?

Got back from Sunderland last night at 17.10 and from Kings X, I dashed onto the tube and arrived at Victoria hoping to catch my usual Dartford train to Denmark Hill - lo and behold there was my missus with a big bag of posh Crisps from M&S!! lurvely......we munched all the way to the hospital and then soon as we arrived, she was whisked off to a waiting room for blood pressure checks. The it was straight into the scan room and wow! If we thought we were excited earlier, you should hear us now! There's no holding back.......

We got home about 8.30 and both promptly crashed.

This has been an insane year for me personally. I've got married, moved house and then the baby! At work, it never ceases to amaze me that we have done so much professionally. All this equals a very satisfying existence!

Now where's that training brief I need........

JQ

Road Trip!!

It was ineveitable. At some point I was going to have to bite the bullet and get myself off to the North East. Still, not as far as DC two weeks ago.

Yesterday (Friday) was Laura's birthday. If you read this LAura, hope you had an enjoyable evening!

I interviewed an individual for an intern position we have and that proved to be an enjoyable 30 mins.

What else happened on Friday.......oh yes, I had a record number of emails - 256 in total. I should say that around a third were spam (that's a real diservice to a fab canned food by the way!), another third were round robin lists and the rest, well the rest were pure work!! Managed to finish the Young ABA power point and must massive thanks to the Ambassadors who emailed me their contributions, they are fantastic!

My train leaves Kings X on Sunday evening and I should arrive in Durham at about 8.40pm. The conference is on Monday and I am key noting at 9.30 so I have still got lot's of work to do today and tomorrow. Sometimes I wish I could switch off at the weekend - I know kath wishes I would switch off too.

Finally on Monday, I arrive back into London at 16.45 and must dash to Kings College hospital to meet Kathryn as we are having our 23 week scan and we both can't wait to see how much our little'un has grown. Wowsers............

Team........if you are reading this, please don't ignore my request to mail that package by the post tray!! Cheers all and see you on Tuesday. Quincy Snr

Being Blogstipated..............

I have been blogstipated for a few days, now I am free and haven't digested a single fig/prune!!

Today Emma and I are going around the corner to Rochester House to check out our potential new office - very exciting. Much as I like 77 Church Road, I am looking forward to moving and a new start again! More space, parking etc far more civilised.

Boy oh boy is AB Week gonna rock! We are so all over it like a rash and we are going to be so busy.

Now I am in blogstacy...........yee ha................JQ

British Traditions?

In case you hadn't noticed it's winter. That's got no relevance to this blog as such, but I just wanted to get a weather reference in, thus helping bring the British institution of talking about the weather into the cyber age.

Another far more damaging British 'tradition' is that of organisational or institutional bullying. I'm not going to bore you with all the figures involved, sufficing to say they are pretty shocking. 25% of people have experienced some form of bullying at work although if you take into account cultures of silence in certain companies and sectors this becomes a conservative estimate.

Apart form the human cost there are massive financial implications both from loss of productivity, directly and indirectly, affecting revenue streams and possible legal costs. At work bystanderism by the wrong people could possible be seen as negligence.

The reason I've blogged about this is that I've spend most of the day indulging my love of trawling through HR and employment law websites. I might do more of this in the future.

My third week here now and am settling in nicely, although the commuting sucks. I'm really glad I took the gamble of coming here rather than the other options. My learning curve is still huge, but I've got more of an overview now so things are looking clearer than at first. Soon some degree of competence on my part might even become evident.

AL

Welcome Richard!

I'd like to formally welcome Richard to BB...he's been a remarkable intern for the last 3 months and has clearly made himself indispensable as he was offered a full-time post on Friday and having spent the weekend mulling it over, accepted this morning. So welcome to the BB bosom. Metaphorically speaking of course, you understand...

SD The CD