Government urges social enterprises to be heard

A government survey is asking social enterprises for their views on local policy, support and funding.

The second Cabinet Office national survey of charities and social enterprises opened today. More than 110,000 organisations in the civil society sector have been selected to take part in the survey. A code, given to the organisations by post, is required to access the online survey.

In 2008, the Cabinet Office ran its first sector survey and saw 49,000 organisations respond on such topics as influencing local decisions, local funding and income and local support and guidance. 

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said the information collected proved ‘invaluable’ to the sector and local statutory bodies in identifying key local issues and improving on them. She added that responses from all sizes and types of organisations was ‘essential to ensure the results build a representative picture of the views of the whole sector and give information that will carry real weight at the local level’.

This second wave of the survey aims to take these results further, assessing the progress made since 2008.

Minister for civil society Nick Hurd said: ‘This survey represents a real opportunity for organisations to put their views across on issues that affect them, communicate with local authorities and their partners, and inform and influence national and local policy.

‘I urge all those organisations who receive the survey to respond to ensure their voice is heard.’

Responses must be in by 27 September 2010.

The survey and more information can be found at www.nscsesurvey.com

The results will be published on this website in early 2011.