Is this the end for the third sector?

By Mathew Little, Third Sector, 25 June 2008

The third sector could soon be banished from town halls across England thanks to a crackdown by the Local Government Association.

'Third sector' is number 92 in a list of 100 'non-words' the LGA is urging councils to stop using in a bid to help them communicate more effectively. Councils should instead use the words 'charities and voluntary organisations', it says.

"The public sector cannot, should not and must not hide behind impenetrable jargon and phrases," said Sir Simon Milton, chair of the LGA. "We are striving to make sure that people get the chance to under-stand what services we provide."

'Partnerships', 'community engagement' and 'joint working' could also be ditched by local authorities as part of the crackdown.

The LGA argues that the term 'partnerships' should be replaced with 'working together' and 'engaging users' with 'getting people involved'.

- See Little at Large, page 56.

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Brian Craven

Brian Craven, 25 June 2008, 09:25

Wot no Social Enterrpise??

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Bob McBride

Bob McBride, 25 June 2008, 10:50

Crazy idea instead all threse buzz words and jargon we speak plain English to each other. When we hear third sector do we know what they mean? Do they? Or is this being trendy?

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Martyn de Young

Martyn de Young, 25 June 2008, 11:10

So, what are they going to replace "public sector" with?

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Andrew Fielding

Andrew Fielding, 25 June 2008, 11:18

I suggest they are going to replace "public sector" with "privatised service provision company!"

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paul barasi

paul barasi, 25 June 2008, 12:49

Isn't it a bit touchy to discuss this in "Third Sector"? Government decided unilaterally to call us Third Sector even though this never won a popular vote in the sector. They even have an Office of the Third Sector, rather than For the Third Sector, and the Tories want an Office of Civil Society.

I say our Local Government Association partners are right. If you don't, try going onto a housing estate with a megaphone to call out "Are there any Third Sector Organisations here or any Civil Society Organisations?" and see how many you find who know what you're on about. Next, try it out with "TSOs" or maybe now "CSOs" and explain we used to be "VCOs".

The only pattern seems to be a lort of "Ohs".

Isn't the reality that people don't know what our sector is but they do know their mum goes to Age Concern?

I prefer the Independent Sector and all national organisations and local groups that feel they are part of it would be in it. But it isn't enough to just change the words - people need to know what these mean, and that takes communicating. How many councils explain to local groups what the local area agreement, local strategic partnership, community strategy, best value and scrutiny are, how to get involved, what support they'd get and what's in it for them if they do?

The risk with changing the language is losing those who understood the previous lingo. Let's not forget that today nothing works, nothing is fit for purpose, everything needs changing, new initiatives and legislation is the answer to every problem. Maybe the biggest problem is with the sheer pace of change and the amount of paper coming out of government. What our sector can do - and neither central nor local government can - is actually improve society, communities and lives, and in turn maybe being able to do this depends on values, capability, vision and leadership.

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