The government must use the civil society covenant to mobilise charities around its national missions, a report has urged.

Without “mass mobilisation” across sectors, the government risks failing in these missions, a paper published by the cross-party think tank Demos says.

The report, which was supported by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the government support company Serco, argues that civil society organisations have a “critical role” in helping the government achieve its socioeconomic missions.

Labour’s five missions, outlined in its manifesto, include kickstarting economic growth, delivering clean power by 2030, halving serious violent crime, reforming education and improving the NHS.

But it says there are barriers to mobilising civil society organisations around the national missions, including the “fragile finances” of many charities following the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.

Other barriers to mobilisation include a reduction in the number of national and local infrastructure organisations; challenges in participating in public procurement processes and delivering public sector contracts; and a focus on short-term challenges, such as the rise in employer National Insurance Contributions, making it harder to give time to engaging with central and local government.

The report urges the government to use the upcoming civil society covenant to mobilise voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations around its national missions.

It says the covenant could include a requirement for combined and strategic authorities to engage with civil society infrastructure organisations around relevant national missions, backed up with a requirement for an annual report on their engagement with the sector.

“We agree with the Local Government Association that the civil society covenant should also include an overarching principle that civil society organisations should be brought into policy and procurement design processes at the earliest possible stage,” the report says.

It adds that this should include an open discussion of identified challenges or problems and possible solutions.

“This is an alternative to a ‘consultation’ process, which may come later in the process when some of the most important decisions have already been made,” the report says.

The covenant should also include a commitment that central government will partner with civil society organisations when leading mission-related activities, the report says, adding that a ‘test and learn’ approach with rapid feedback loops would be beneficial.

The report also urges the government to work with and support local VCSE infrastructure organisations to enable civil society mission mobilisation.

“The number of local and national infrastructure charities has halved since 2010. Many that still exist struggle to secure sufficient funding. Where possible, local and regional authorities should invest in LIOs to support and to mobilise the local VCSE ecosystem,” the report says.

It adds that, given the current “crisis” in local authority finances, the government should also consider providing grant funding to local infrastructure organisations.

The report also recommends that the government reform its procurement processes to better mobilise VCSE organisations, including by addressing concerns about the lack of standardisation and transparency.

It suggests that contracting authorities can explore co-design methods, provide early information and avoid short deadlines, and welcome bids from consortia to encourage collaboration.

Polly Curtis, chief executive of Demos, said: “The missions promised a new way of governing around clear priorities and through partnership between state, business and society. 

“If the government tries to achieve its missions through command and control structures it will fail. The radical approach is to put partnership at the heart of government and forge a new way for the country to move forward together.”

Saskia Konynenburg, executive director at NCVO, said: “Every day, charities mobilise volunteers, communities and people across the country to rally behind causes and create collective action. 

“The forthcoming covenant, which will set out a framework for how government and civil society works together, will be an important tool in helping make sure our mobilising mindset, as well as the lived experiences of communities and on-the-ground expertise, is embedded into how the government achieves its goals. 

“Our sector is ready, willing and able to help mobilise people to engage and participate to ensure we can create positive change we all need.”