cadence comments about third sector

10 Oct 2011

All in it together?

I do not think the 'all in it together' phrase was used much at the Conservative conference last week. The response that lots of our clients have is 'yes, and some of us more than other' ... more

28 Sep 2011

What we do ... (and why)

We are often asked 'what is it that you do'? An answer along the lines of public policy research and strategy projects can cause a number of reactions. Sometimes it results in a glazed look and no further questions or more often than not the question 'what is that you do'? is repeated. The best way of answering is often to talk about real projects we are involved in and usually one of the areas we mention will interest our inquisitor. Dealing with cuts, commissioning, museums (yes museums), homelessness ... more

5 Sep 2011

Autumn

Once again the government is getting in a muddle in trying to square its different priorities. new planning regulations to encourage enterprise and recovery, versus localism and the big society. There is nothing more likely to bring a community together than an objection to a planning application ... more

11 May 2011

Prison, drugs and impact

Ken Clarke got in a pickle with the figures about the relative benefits of community sentences and prison the other day. He still seemed to be making good points about the need for rehabilitation in prison and we hope the report in the Society Guardian caught his eye today. It talks about RAPT (Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust) and their 'intensive, abstinence-based approach to tackling prisoners' addiction' ... more

3 May 2011

The alternative vote - council elections

The media attention in the run up to election day is clearly on the voting system is referendum. Their attention might turn to the council elections when the results came in on Friday. All across the country a new set of councillors will be faced with trying to deliver some 'challenging' budgets. Nobody want to lose control of a town hall, but ... more

13 Apr 2011

Fit for purpose (and cuts)

The public sector has always struggled as a buyer. Paying well over the odds for paper clips and light switches tends to get the Mail enraged, but the problem is inevitably more complex than that. Anyone who bares the scars of filling in a local authority PQQ will have some inkling as to why things go wrong. The term 'fit for purpose' is the one that always create tension here in Cadence HQ ... more

3 Mar 2011

There is no alternative? A bit of a pickle

There is a real head of steam building up for cuts protests and saving the NHS. No doubt protests have their place, but is there an alternative to the current cuts proposals? If there is who is going to articulate it? ... more

18 Feb 2011

Grumpiness - the easy option

These are difficult times. The cuts are stressful for many organisations and individuals. It would be easy to end up being grumpy about it all. We all shout at the radio sometimes (OK it is just us then). That does not really work when you are a charity working out how to not just survive, but thrive ... more

1 Feb 2011

Connected Communities - getting heard?

At an RSA event on Connected Communities there was as usual some interesting material presented. A couple of years ago the response might have been more enthusiastic, but the presenters had to stomach a few praise sandwiches ... more

17 Jan 2011

Third sector job losses - bad news for BS?

News today that the number of people working in the third sector reduced by 2% in the third quarter of 2010. Is this bad or good news? ... more