Fairer procurement

To procure the best services to meet local need, service users must be involved in all stages of commissioning.

Local voluntary groups and charities have an essential role in reaching communities. They are uniquely placed to identify new and emerging needs for services and find innovative solutions to meet these needs. For the local third sector to fulfil its potential in designing and delivering high quality public services rooted in the local community, commissioners should remove barriers, harness the strengths and develop the potential of the local third sector. The aim should be for public services that fully address local need, which in the long run saves money.

We call upon the Government to require public bodies to embed social objectives in procurement processes that sustain and strengthen good quality local voluntary services.

NAVCA will assist local public bodies to develop commissioning frameworks that value the unique contribution local voluntary organisations make to local service provision.