In October 2008, I was asked to be Shadow Minister for Charities; Social Enterprises and Volunteering. My job is to shadow the Minister for the Third Sector, which is a department that sits inside the Cabinet Office.

The main Parliamentary duties include:-

1. Holding the Government to account for its policies in relation to Charities; Social Enterprises and Voluntary organisations :- the so called Third Sector
2. Development and articulation of policy towards the Third Sector.

These duties are in addition to my duties as a constituency MP.

Below you will find a sample list of engagements, which reflect the additional commitment required.

It is a great privilege for me to do this job. I know from my own constituency just how important the work of charities and voluntary organisations is, not least as so often it is the ‘glue’ that keeps communities together. The Sector is a very important pillar of Civil Society and we must do what we can to support and strengthen it.

I have met with the following organisations:

ACEVO
Action for Children
BTCV
Catch 22
Changemakers
Charities Aid Foundation
Citizens Advice Bureau
Clic Sargent
Clore Social Leadership
Commission for the Compact
Common Purpose
Compact Voice
Croydon Voluntary Action Resource Centre
Dash
Dorset Community Action
Elizabeth Finn Care
Futurebuilders
HACT
Help the Aged
Impetus Trust
Institute for Philanthropy
Kennington Kids
Lifeline
Livity Trust
Missionfish
Muscular Dystrophy Transport Campaign
National Trust
National Voices
NAVCA
NCVO
NESTA
nfpSynergy
People and Planet
Politeia
Prospectus
Red Ochre
School for Social Entrepreneurs
Social Enterprise Coalition
Social Enterprise London
Social Finance
SOVA
Speaking Up
Spice
Sporta
Start Here
Sunlight Trust
Thames Community Foundation
The Aldridge Foundation
The Association of Charitable Foundations
The Baring Foundation
The Big Lottery Fund
The Bright Ideas Trust
The Charity Commission
The Charity Tax Group
The Cottons Centre
The Cranfield Trust
The Directory for Social Change
The Foundation for Social Improvement
The Metropolitan Police – Volunteering
The Pennies Foundation
The Trust Partnership
Tomorrow’s People
Turning Point
U Can Do It
Unity Trust Bank
UNTLD
V
Venturesome
Voice For Change
Volans
Volunteer Centre Lambeth
Volunteering England
West London Volunteering Centre
Westminster Childcare Services
WRVS
Youthnet
Zurich

I have also been asked to speak at a number of conferences and events across the country:

ACEVO
Association of Charity Officers
Baring Foundation
England Volunteering and Development Council
Funding for the Future
Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations
HAVS
London Voluntary Services Council
NCVO
nfpSynergy
One East Midlands
Politeia
Prudential Employee Volunteering Awards
Rainer/ Crime Concern Conference
Social Enterprise London
South West Forum
Voluntary Action West Kent