Craig Dearden-Phillips: Cry freedom - no third sector convert wants to return to the public domain Old-style public services will sooner or later run out of road and the third sector has to be part of the solution to the problem, says our columnist

Interview: Gareth Thomas The new shadow civil society minister tells John Plummer why he thinks the sector needs more protection from cuts

Interview: Nick Hurd Programmes and initiatives for the voluntary sector have multiplied since last year's Tory gathering focused on the big society. Kaye Wiggins asks the Minister for Civil Society about his priorities and John Plummer looks at the policy details

Editorial: Mutualisation is delicately poised There is tension in the government about whether to push ahead rapidly with public service reform, including mutualisation, says Stephen Cook

Interview: Lord Glasman The adviser to Ed Miliband says the last government funded the sector well but charities became distant from communities