Dame Julia Cleverdon's taskforce reports back on recession risk areas

Business in the Community's Vice President, Dame Julia Cleverdon, has led an independent taskforce, which will report its recommendations to Angela Smith, Minister of State for the Third Sector today.

Hard hit communities with strong collaborative partnerships between public, private and third sector with a focus on innovative practical action locally will emerge stronger from the downturn.

'Building Stronger Communities - Business and the third sector: innovation in tough times' will be launched at the House of Lords to the Minister and is the result of three months of national consultation across the business, third and public sectors.

The consultative process led by Julia Cleverdon focused on best practices and places at most risk of fracture due to the recession. Swindon, Southwark, Calderdale, Stoke and rural Lincolnshire were regions identified as being at particular risk of fracture.

The taskforce consulted with businesses, charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises to identify the barriers, opportunities and examples of best practice.

Report recommendations

The Building Stronger Communities report (589 kb)  makes ten recommendations to businesses, the third sector and to the Government under three key priorities for action: building closer connections between the sectors at local level, the importance of responsible downsizing, and investment in innovative partnerships.

"Business needs to recognise that how it behaves locally during tough times shapes its reputation much more than national flagship programmes and corporate responsibility videos," said Julia Cleverdon. "Where companies who are downsizing develop innovative partnerships with the third sector, which focus on supporting real need with employee support and supplier engagement, they will build trust and a stronger legacy for the communities they need to serve.

"The third sector - more vibrant and with some strong social enterprises now in place - needs to take responsibility too," said Julia Cleverdon. "Often businesses are confused by a sea of overlapping requests for help and the third sector must redouble their efforts to work collaboratively together and produce clearer menus for action. Hard hit communities with strong collaborative partnerships between public, private and third sector with a focus on innovative practical action locally will emerge stronger from the downturn and the Government, Companies and the Third Sector need to identify what each can do to make this a reality."

Angela Smith, Minister of State for the Third Sector, said: "I thank Dame Julia and the business and third sector representative who have worked so hard to produce a clear way forward for all communities to use scarce resources efficiently. The report highlights many examples of businesses having a positive impact on their communities and I hope these will inspire others to take action. It is clear that the Government has an important role too and I will work with colleagues across government to consider the report's recommendations."

CommunityMark companies

Companies that have achieved the CommunityMark, the national standard of community investment excellence, have played a key role in the consultation process for the taskforce as they are exemplars of effective partnerships in action. The nine new achievers of the CommunityMark will also been recognised at the House of Lords by Angela Smith, Minister of State for the Third Sector, and Ian Lucas, Minister for CSR on 21 July 2009.

Business in the Community is also working in partnership with the Prime Minister's Council on Social Action and Timebank to develop the National Talent Bank, which will help provide volunteering opportunities for employees currently working less as a result of the economic downturn. The National Talent Bank was launched today by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

More about the Building Stronger Communities taskforce

The Building Stronger Communities taskforce included representatives from business and the third sector. It was commissioned by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and supported by Business in the Community (BITC).