This month’s policy roundup aims to give you a taste into what the policy and influencing team has been up to over the past month.
By Shareen Patel, policy and influencing officer
Civil Society Covenant framework engagement
Our engagement phase on the framework of the Civil Society Covenant has now come to a close. We thank you for taking the time to participate and providing input, whether through filling in the online form, speaking to us individually, or attending any of the open access workshops. We are now starting the analysis phase of the responses received from across civil society.
Employer National Insurance Contributions
We have received confirmation from the Chancellor that while the government has heard the concerns our sector has raised on the proposed changes to the employer National Insurance Contributions, we will not be offered any exemptions. This comes following our joint letter co-signed by more than 7,300 charities and voluntary organisations, where we set out the scale of the impact these changes will have on our sector.
Alongside CFG and NCVO, we issued a joint statement in response.
Although this is not the news we hoped for, we are continuing to engage with government on this issue and raising the voice of the sector so that the government understands the impact this will have on the sector.
The Committee/Report/3rd reading stages of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill is taking place.
Home Truths 2
The last session of our Race Equity Series ‘Reporting racism in mainstream civil society’ is taking place on Tuesday 25 February 10.30am-11.30am. Reporting racism can make things worse – it can lead to defensive responses and institutions can make those reporting racism, rather than the racism itself, the problem. But how do we turn this around – so that organisations come to view reporting racism as integral to becoming anti-racist? And what might a humane and life-affirming racism reporting regime look like? Book your place to watch live and explore these questions and more.
If you missed it, you can catch up on the previous themed sessions: 1) Why we need to move beyond diversity, 2) Reporting and responding to ethnic pay disparities, 3) Inside intersectionality, and 4) Mission-driven race equity here, whether through reading the associated blog and/or downloading companion notes.
Climate crisis
Our next climate crisis member meeting is taking place on Wednesday 29 January 2025 14:00-15:00. We’ll hear from Gill Perkins, CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Gill will talk about her experience in leading the Trust and share her insights around being part of Rethink Nature. She will talk about how it was developed, its role in catalysing action across the UK, and how the partner organisations work in coalition to increase impact and aid organisational sustainability. Book your place now!
The policy and influencing team is here to help! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at policy@acevo.org.uk.
