Government review on skills and leadership in charity sector

The Leadership 20:20 panel has highlighted the lack of diversity and recognised pathways in civil society sector leadership as part of its submission to a government review on skills and leadership in the charity sector.

The government review, which is being led by Dame Mary Marsh on behalf of the Cabinet Office, will look at how effective existing support on leadership for the sector is.

In its submission to the review, the Leadership 20:20 panel highlighted findings from its consultation of 1,000 charity sector people. The consultation found that respondents do not feel that the sector’s leaders represent the constituents it supports, including women, BME communities and the disabled.

It also found that there is a lack of recognised pathways into the charity sector and its leadership, with personal and professional development in the sector being patchy.

The Leadership 20:20 panel has an action plan to address some of its findings, including the creation of best practice guidance in diverse recruitment and the establishment of a sector leadership development framework.

The Cabinet Office's skills and leadership review will report on its findings in the spring.

For further information on the Leadership 20:20 panel visit http://leadership2020panel.wordpress.com.