The Government are today publishing the final report of the review of the future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration. This review was announced in Budget 2006 and forms part of the analysis for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

This final report marks the end of the largest consultation the Government has conducted with the third sector and sets out a new framework for the Government's partnership with the third sector.

The final report of the third sector review signals the Government's commitment to continue to work in partnership with the third sector, particularly in four key areas - enabling voice and campaigning, strengthening communities, transforming public services and encouraging social enterprise. Under these themes, the Government will continue a number of important policies and programmes. These include continuing to strengthen the implementation of the Compact, further funding for the youth volunteering charity, v, investment in capacity building and further support for organisations involved in the delivery of public services.

However, this strategy also sets out important developments in the Government's approach. In addition to a number of specific measures, such as greater support for grant funding of small organisations, a new skills strategy and a new drive to improve the third sector evidence base, the Government will over the next 10 years develop their partnership with the sector by:

working with a fuller range of organisations and supporting a wider range of activities in the third sector, particularly around community action and campaigning;

a greater emphasis on investing in the long-term sustainability of the third sector's work; and,

a greater focus on local partnership working.

In addition to the publication of this report, the Government are announcing today the creation of a Council on Social Action. The Council will generate ideas and develop initiatives to promote social action.

Copies of “The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration: final report” have been placed in the Library for the reference of Members and will be available in the Vote Office.