Senior comms directors from ten high-profile charities have held
discussions about forming a coalition to voice their concerns over the
Government's lack of guidance on its Big Society plans.
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Discussion chair: Clarence Mitchell |
Prime Minister
David
Cameron has suggested that charitable bodies could have a
bigger role to play in public services under the plans.
However, charities remain confused about the role they are expected to
play. Last week, top comms representatives from ten UK charities held a
meeting at the Covent Garden Hotel to discuss ways to go forward. Lewis
PR’s director of media strategy and public affairs
Clarence Mitchell,
who handled PR in the search for missing
child
Madeleine McCann, led the discussion.
‘From everything we are hearing, a number of charities are confused
about how they can communicate with the Government to get Big Society
implemented,’ he said. ‘If charities are saying they’re not being
brought into the conversation, there’s an opportunity for the
Government to engage charities.’
All of the charities present confirmed the Government has not engaged
with them about how to be involved in the Big Society. Whizz-Kidz PR
manager Rob Dyson, who also attended, agreed that ‘charities working
together to ask questions is a good idea, and if larger organisations
can afford to rise up and take the smaller ones with them, all the
better’.
Among the plans discussed was a letter to The Times followed by an
extensive digital campaign. |