Charities, faith groups, social enterprises and impact investors recognised as essential partners.
The Prime Minister will today launch the Civil Society Covenant – a new way of working that puts people at the heart of government.
Ministers and community leaders gather at a national summit to show how collaboration is already delivering – and will go further.
The Prime Minister joins community leaders, campaigners, and charities from across the UK to launch the Civil Society Covenant – a new approach that listens, learns and delivers alongside those on the frontline.
In his keynote speech, the Prime Minister will reflect on a promise made 18 months ago in opposition: to work in genuine partnership with civil society in the national interest.
Since taking office, that promise has become reality – resetting the relationship between government and the people working every day to make their communities stronger.
At its core, the Covenant is about delivering real change for working people – strengthening public services, creating safe communities, and providing new opportunities for communities to thrive. It gives civil society a home at the heart of government and recognises that national renewal can’t be delivered from Westminster alone.
The summit brings together leaders from charities, faith organisations, philanthropists, social investors and grassroots groups to focus on the UK’s most urgent issues – from healthcare access to tackling violence against women and girls.
These are challenges that disproportionately affect working families, and the Covenant ensures their voices are heard and their needs are met.
“This is about rebalancing power and responsibility,” the Prime Minister will say.
“Not the top-down approach of the state working alone. Not the transactional approach of markets left to their own devices. But a new way forward – where government and civil society work side by side to deliver real change.”
The Civil Society Covenant has been shaped by over 1,200 organisations since it was first announced in October 2024. From national charities to local campaigners, it sets out how government and communities will work together to deliver lasting change.
Ahead of speaking at the Summit later today, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The Civil Society Covenant is about delivering real results for working people. It marks a shift from a government that kept civil society at arm’s length to one that actively partners with it, on equal footing.
“Our charities, volunteers, and social enterprises are embedded in the communities they serve and trusted by the people they support. That makes them the perfect partners for shaping the change we need.
“By working together, we’ll improve public services, make them more responsive and rooted in local needs, and ensure that every community benefits as part of our Plan for Change.”
The Covenant will play a key role in delivering the government’s Plan for Change—supporting the opportunity mission by breaking down barriers for young people, helping to build an NHS fit for the future, and ensuring that no community is left behind.
As part of the Summit, the government will also announce a new Joint Civil Society Covenant Council to drive delivery.
The Joint Council will set direction and provide strategic oversight for its implementation.
It will have cross-sector membership comprising senior leaders from civil society and senior representatives from government departments to provide a key forum for driving progress in the reset of the relationship between government and civil society.
A Local Covenant Partnerships programme will also be launched to support collaboration between civil society, councils and public services in communities that need it most.
SCVO chief executive Anna Fowlie said: “SCVO welcomes the publication of the UK Government’s Civil Society Covenant, which recognises the independence of, and the vital role played by, voluntary organisations in our communities, society, and democracy.
“Today is a starting point. The words on the page must now be made real—and that requires sustained effort, open dialogue, and, crucially, a genuine commitment to a partnership of equals.
“We welcome the Covenant’s recognition of the different contexts in which the voluntary sector operates across the UK—and, importantly, its commitment to respect and complement these.
“As we look ahead to next year’s Scottish Parliament election, there is a real opportunity to raise our ambitions here in Scotland. Learning from the frameworks and models that exist across the UK - what works well and what could be improved - SCVO will be making the case for a meaningful partnership of equals between the Scottish Government and the voluntary sector.”
Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond - the UK’s network for NGOs - added: "The Civil Society Covenant is a positive first step by the government to reset the relationship with civil society. Concrete action must now follow to protect civic space and strengthen our democracy.
“While we welcome the government's commitment to protect peaceful protest, it needs to reverse the erosion of protest rights that has taken place over the past few years. This includes abandoning plans to introduce yet more anti-protest measures through the Crime and Policing Bill.
“It is encouraging that the Covenant makes clear that the government will respect the independence and legitimacy of civil society to advocate and campaign for their issues. We hope this will end the unnecessary inclusion of anti-advocacy and gagging clauses in grant agreements.
“The commitment to work with civil society to build a healthy democracy and overcome barriers to democratic participation is also welcome. We hope the government uses the forthcoming Elections Bill to make important regulatory changes, such as exempting registered charities from the non-party campaigning rules, which have had a chilling effect on advocacy and campaigning in the lead up to elections.
“Finally, the promise to build genuine partnerships, based on engagement and long-term funding, has the potential for real change. We have seen how all too often, civil society groups and the communities they work with are shut out of policy making processes or brought in too late, and the disastrous consequences this can have. By working together from the beginning, we can co-create policy to ensure it meets the needs of communities here in the UK and globally."
