Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations

Department of Health (DH)

Strategic review of Department of Health funding for third sector organisations

The document details DH’s plans to work to in partnership with third sector organisations and seeks comments and suggestions about the way in which DH can improve upon the way it engages with the third sector. The DH is currently developing a strategic framework for its investment in the third sector that aims to transform current piecemeal arrangements into a strategic portfolio of investment that more explicitly supports delivery of the DH's objectives and priorities.

The document also asks how the DH can create a level playing field for third sector organisations in the way it does business, and sets out their current thinking on these issues and asks for our views. The DH is working towards a strategic partnership scheme which they hope will benefit all communities. The results of this consultation will help the DH to inform the development and implementation of the strategic and investment framework in summer 2008 after which a timetable will be developed for implementation.

CEMVO’s makes various recommendations with regards to the ways in which CEMVO can facilitate the communication between The DH and CEMVO’s beneficiaries and stakeholders and the shape and form that a strategic alliance between partners and the DH may take. Our response offers a number of practical recommendations which we hope will make a positive contribution to this consultation exercise as well as the wider debate on effective engagement with the third sector.

Related Links

• Department of Health – Strategic review of Department of Health funding for third sector organisations: Consultation document (opens in a new window)
• CEMVO’s response to this consultation for the Department of Health (PDF document)