CABINET OFFICE News
Release (CAB/102/08) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 21
October 2008
The Government
today announced plans to create a new Third Sector skills body
which will identify and address skills gaps and shortages for
charities, voluntary groups, social enterprises and other third
sector organisations. It will pull together the work of the sector
skills councils to open up learning opportunities for third sector
paid and voluntary staff. It will ensure the sector's needs
are properly considered in the design development of National
Occupational Standards, the design Apprenticeship Frameworks and
Sector Qualification Strategies.
The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in the Cabinet Office and
the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) will
jointly fund the new skills body with £2.5 million over the next
three years. It will be independent and directed by a board
representing the sector's employers. To help the new body
become established, Skills for Justice will act as an incubator.
Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector, said:
"This will put the third sector's skills needs on the
same level as other sectors. Charities, voluntary groups and
social enterprises deal with some of the most challenging social
and environmental issues. Whether they are multi-million pound
global operations or small community groups, having employees and
volunteers with the right skills to get the job done is essential.
"The skills body is one more part of the Government's
comprehensive strategy to help the third sector to thrive, root
out injustice and build a fairer society."
Lord Young, Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, said:
"The third sector skills body will be a real step change to
how charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups get the
skills they need. As well as developing programmes to plug the
immediate skill gaps, it will link the third sector in to the
complete national skills framework and influence the development
of skills support services for the benefit of the sector."
Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the National Council for
Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) said:
"We very much welcome this decision to create a dedicated
skills body for the sector, which acknowledges the crucial part
that our sector and its workforce play. The new body will be able
to build on the experience of the Workforce Hub and its
achievements of the past four years."
Notes to editors
1. The OTS is part of the Cabinet Office and first announced
plans to create a dedicated third sector skills body in the
'Third Sector Review', an overarching strategy to create
the environment for a thriving third sector. For further
information please see:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/third_sector_review.aspx
2. Skills for Justice is the sector skills council for the
justice sector. It will host the third sector workforce
development council for the coming three years. For Further
information please see: http://www.skillsforjustice.com
3. National Occupational Standards define the competences which
apply to job roles or occupations in the form of statements of
performance, knowledge and the evidence required to confirm
competence. For further information please see:
http://www.ukstandards.co.uk/About_occupational_standards/default.aspx
4. The NCVO is a national umbrella organisation for third sector
organisations. For further information please see: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/about/
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