Susan Smith argues that creating a fairer society requires a third sector willing to mount a challenge to growing external criticism
The spring and summer of 2015 has seen a rash of negative publicity for charities – first we had mismanagement of the Kiltwalk, then public distaste for charity chief executive pay came up again and in May the fundraising industry was accused of hounding a 92-year-old woman to death.
More recently, several London and Edinburgh offices of household-name charities have been publicly brawling and the summer is coming to a close alongside Kids Company, one of the UK’s most celebrated if unorthodox voluntary organisations. For those of us working in the third sector, there is a lot to think about.
Right now, we are not alone in this pursuit; it is hard to remember a period when the mainstream media took a greater interest in the workings of the third sector than the last couple of months. While this has made the sector the target of much misinformation and cheap shots, often from some surprising quarters, there have also been some thought-provoking examinations of what has gone wrong in each of these specific cases.
Now though, with the end of the summer silly season and the return of more powerful punching bags to public life, the mainstream media will no doubt lose interest in charities for a while.
That’s the problem. Despite scare stories about the millions of public and donor cash spent on paper clips and fundraising campaigns, the reality is that the third sector is pocket change to national newspaper reporters. Scotland’s GDP is £141 billion with total public spending amounting to around £65bn a year. In this context Scotland’s £5bn third sector is at best a fringe interest. Not only this, the sector covers nearly 25,000 registered charities and 45,000 voluntary organisations. Most have an income of under £50,000 and employ less than half a dozen people. As a sector, it’s too complicated for the average reporter – until the next nice juicy and straightforward scandal, that is.
As a sector we do need to ask ourselves some hard questions, but not necessarily the obvious ones the ill-informed are pushing us towards.
But, rather than breathe a sigh of relief that the eye of the media has moved on to more bigger prey, the third sector really ought to use this opportunity to strengthen its defences.
It is increasingly clear that this is not a one-off battle. There are more malignant forces underpinning these stories – perhaps a powerful section of society that would like to see a smaller third sector – and their mission will continue to gather pace unless the sector mounts a challenge. Public trust is beginning to falter, and if it topples completely, where does that leave the thousands of people who depend on the third sector bodies every year?
As a sector we do need to ask ourselves some hard questions, but not necessarily the obvious ones the ill-informed are pushing us towards.
Britain’s third sector organisations were created for a purpose and navel gazing and self-flagellation will not deliver that purpose. Many (arguably most) were created by the people they are set up to serve, yet their needs have been invisible in all of this. The focus on the donor as the only stakeholder that counts echoes the private sector model of investor and financial return. Efficiency may be a key tenet of capitalism, but does it really apply to social action?
And then there’s the sticky issue of public services. Third sector social care providers have an excellent reputation providing person-centred services usually better than either the public or the private sector. Does that mean public donations should subsidise services that the tax-payer believes they have already funded? Who should the sector be accountable to for these services? Is it possible to draw a line between essential and additional public services anyway?
What this all comes down to is why we are here. If we are not firm in our purpose, how can we respond to criticism? Society is not a binary notion, despite the desire of the media, politicians and some members of the public to neatly box it that way.
Although we are third in name our nature is much greater, potentially boundless. Let’s shake off the inferiority complex that leads the third sector to dance to the tune of government and media and be really honest about our intentions. We are here to help create a better, fairer society – there's nothing to be ashamed of in that.
Susan Smith is editor of Third Force News.
Do you agree with Susan? How do you think Scotland’s third sector should respond to criticism? Is the third sector doing enough to address its own weakness? Email [email protected] or comment here.
