Martin Sime, Chief Executive of SCVO, said "We welcome the sentiment that people can be encouraged to play a greater role in supporting each other and contributing to their communities.  But government needs to learn to nurture and support rather than direct and control such initiatives. 

In this case, that means understanding what role people actually want to play.  Yes, they want a say, but the majority don't want to be strong armed into the position of actually delivering front line services.  Most people simply don't want the responsibility for filling the gaps between what the public purse can afford.

The Government needs to understand that the key to this is building trust and supporting the third sector to grow by removing red tape. If the UK Government really want to help charities and voluntary organisations do more then there are some pretty simple steps it can take: by removing petty restrictions which prevent unemployed people from volunteering, allowing charities to reclaim VAT on the things they buy, and by making Gift Aid easier to claim."

SCVO recently published a Manifesto encouraging national and local politicians to help the voluntary sector by Doing Things Differently - with the right support  the sector can do more to mobilise people to help each other and to help themselves.