Crisis CEO meets with UK Prime Minister to discuss new Civil Society Covenant

Yesterday, ahead of today’s Civil Society summit, Crisis Chief Executive Matt Downie, alongside Macmillan Chief Executive Gemma Peters, were invited to sit down with the UK Prime Minister to discuss the new Civil Society Covenant and how the third sector can work in genuine partnership with Government to strengthen communities and develop innovative solutions to the most intractable social problems.

Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“The best way to solve some of the big, long-term social problems that face our country today is by civil society, Government and business coming together in genuine partnership in a way that is dynamic and different to the past. We in the charity sector are at the frontline of many of these issues, we witness their human impact on a daily basis and, crucially, we know the real, evidence-based and available solutions.

“When it comes to homelessness, recent commitments from Government including the £39 billion for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme signal a welcome shift which puts housing at the heart of the solution. With a homelessness strategy in development, it’s vital we work together to look beyond election cycles and set bold, ambitious 10 year aims that will see homelessness numbers come down and lives transformed.

“The Civil Society Covenant is a reset moment for relations between Government and the third sector. Greater trust and collaboration is vital, but that should be just the beginning. A ‘mission-based’ approach should also be about setting long-term goals and working together across sectors to solve them. Imagine businesses, faith groups, government agencies and charities coming together in communities to end homelessness. Take this to a national level and we have all the tools at our disposal to make homelessness a thing of the past.”