Acevo
Encyclopedia
ACEVO is a membership body for the leaders of third sector organisations in England
and Wales
. ACEVO has sister organisations in Scotland (acosvo) and Northern Ireland (CO3 Chief Officers 3rd Sector http://www.co3.bz).
and peer learning opportunities; providing informal networking events and a members directory available to all members; and lobbying
the UK government on the behalf of its members. These three aims are all intended to make the sector more professional and effective. ACEVO is a registered charity [number 1114591].
Membership fees are gradated by the turnover of the organisation the CEO represents. In 2010, ACEVO launched its Affiliate membership programme, to support CEOs of organisations with a low turnover.
Members join primarily for peer support and professional development through networking, training and events. Members also benefit from information services, and from legal and emotional support in the event that their job is put at risk.
's Office for Civil Society, and has been involved in the government's numerous task forces and working groups.
Together with New Philanthropy Capital
, ACEVO developed and pioneered the concept of Full Cost Recovery http://fullcostrecovery.org.uk/main/index.php?content=home, which states that third sector organisations should cost their work robustly, and that the funding they receive from government should be sustainable.
criticised a 2005 ACEVO report warning it could "warp public perception of the role of the sector". These concerns have resurfaced more recently following CEO Stephen Bubb
's secondment to the department of health to assist with Andrew Lansley
's National Health Service
(NHS) "listening exercise".
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. ACEVO has sister organisations in Scotland (acosvo) and Northern Ireland (CO3 Chief Officers 3rd Sector http://www.co3.bz).
Aims
ACEVO's stated aims are to connect, develop and represent third sector leaders. In turn, these aims are met by offering professional developmentProfessional development
Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
and peer learning opportunities; providing informal networking events and a members directory available to all members; and lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
the UK government on the behalf of its members. These three aims are all intended to make the sector more professional and effective. ACEVO is a registered charity [number 1114591].
History
ACEVO was started in 1987 by three charity Chief Executives who felt isolated in their positions, and felt a need for a networking group of third sector leaders. Its original name was ACENVO - Association of Chief Executives of National Voluntary Organisations. It has grown steadily since then, and when its current Chief Executive, Stephen Bubb, took over in 2000, ACEVO had a staff of 6 and around 1000 members. Today it has 30 staff and a total membership of 1750. ACEVO will celebrate its Silver Jubilee in 2012.Membership
ACEVO's membership is primarily drawn from England and Wales, but since February 2005 it has been offering membership to leaders of organisations based outside the UK (third sector leaders in Scotland or Northern Ireland can join acosvo or CO3 respectively). In England and Wales, membership is also offered to private organisations wishing to support and work with the sector(Commercial Partnership), and likely successors to current Full members (Associate membership).Membership fees are gradated by the turnover of the organisation the CEO represents. In 2010, ACEVO launched its Affiliate membership programme, to support CEOs of organisations with a low turnover.
Members join primarily for peer support and professional development through networking, training and events. Members also benefit from information services, and from legal and emotional support in the event that their job is put at risk.
Influencing
ACEVO has been influential within the UK in campaigning on behalf of third sector leaders, most notably on issues of governance, leadership and funding. ACEVO is a strategic partner of the Cabinet OfficeCabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
's Office for Civil Society, and has been involved in the government's numerous task forces and working groups.
Together with New Philanthropy Capital
New Philanthropy Capital
New Philanthropy Capital is a charitable organisation based in London. It states its mission is to direct more funding to effective charities and help donors make more informed decisions on how to give. New Philanthropy Capital produces reports on issues of social welfare and analyses the...
, ACEVO developed and pioneered the concept of Full Cost Recovery http://fullcostrecovery.org.uk/main/index.php?content=home, which states that third sector organisations should cost their work robustly, and that the funding they receive from government should be sustainable.
International work
ACEVO's international work, as of October 2006, had two clear and distinct aims. The first was to build a European network of third sector leaders, alongside key partners in France and Sweden. The second was to assist ACEVO members in Nigeria and Italy who had requested ACEVO's help in developing their own national associations for third sector leaders.Services provided by ACEVO to the sector
- CutsWatch is a free microsite launched in 2009 by ACEVO. It was designed to provide useful information to help charities and third sector organisations survive the recession.
- In 2011 ACEVO launched its Event Management Service to help organisations with running events and its Consultancy Matching Service to provide third sector organisations with access to reputable and effective consultants.
- ACEVO's Policy work also has an impact across the sector.
Criticism
ACEVO has been criticised by other voluntary sector organisations for taking political stance in favour of charities assisting with the privatisation of public services such as healthcare and prisons. The National Council for Voluntary OrganisationsNational Council for Voluntary Organisations
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England. NCVO works to support the voluntary and community sector and to create an environment in which an independent civil society can flourish...
criticised a 2005 ACEVO report warning it could "warp public perception of the role of the sector". These concerns have resurfaced more recently following CEO Stephen Bubb
Stephen Bubb
Sir Stephen John Limrick Bubb JP FRSA is Chief Executive of the UK charity leaders representative body Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations . He received a knighthood in 2011 for his services to the voluntary sector...
's secondment to the department of health to assist with Andrew Lansley
Andrew Lansley
Andrew David Lansley, CBE, MP is the UK Secretary of State for Health, who has been the Conservative Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire since the 1997 general election, and was Shadow Secretary of State for Health from June 2004 until becoming Secretary of State for Health in May 2010...
's National Health Service
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
(NHS) "listening exercise".