The National Council for Voluntary Organisation (NCVO)’s chief executive Kate Lee is among charity leaders urging new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to translate his commitment to collaborating with charities while as Greater Manchester Mayor to national government.

As Burnham took over from Keir Starmer as PM, Lee praised his close working with the sector in Manchester, saying “he has seen first-hand the role civil society can play in strengthening communities, improving public services and tackling complex social challenges”.

She added that the sector now needs to “support him to translate this understanding from mayoral leadership to national government, so that every community can benefit”.

During his mayoral tenure between 2017 and this year Burnham gave 15% of his salary to local charities. He had pledged the same as an MP, after winning the Makerfield by-election last month.

Also, while as mayor he helped set up the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to tackle homelessness.

The indications are that this commitment to housing issues is set to continue, with Burnham using his first speech as PM outside 10 Downing Street to pledge to end rough sleeping in the UK.

Lee added that during the early days of Burnham’s administration “we’ll be watching with a keen eye for announcements on things like growth, public service reform, devolution and spending – amongst others”.

She also said the NCVO will be “working from day one to ensure that the positive relationship between government and civil society grows even stronger” saying that under Starmer the body had “seen meaningful progress” in how charities work with Whitehall.

This included the launch of the Civil Society Covenant, committing the government to collaborating with charities.

This commitment also saw the setting up of the Civil Society Council, which Lee chairs and sees charity leaders meet regularly with ministers and civil servants. The most recent of these focused on how the sector can be more involved in the government’s healthcare agenda.

Lee wants to see the government’s Covenant commitments “continue, and accelerate at speed – not just nationally, but deep into local government and with more Mayors”.

She said: “Andy Burnham and his team have the opportunity to radically reorganise government and how it works, and it’s vital as this happens that civil society plays a vital role to ensure the voice and experience of communities is at the centre.

“That means clear and tangible commitments from the new Cabinet to work alongside civil society as a partner in designing and delivering change – across every department. It means local authority and Council’s working with their community networks.

Children’s support

Burnham is also being urged to prioritise children and young people’s support as PM.

World Vision UK said his record in government, under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and as Greater Manchester Mayor, “shows a leader who understands what it means to grow up without enough, and who has consistently chosen to do something about it. That record matters to us”.

The charity’s chief executive Fola Komolafe urged Burnham to use the UK’s G20 presidency next year to “be used for children because every child needs the same things to thrive: safety, health, the chance to learn, and a family with enough to provide for them”.

She said: “As the largest children's charity in the world, our message to Andy Burnham today is simple: the world is watching, children are waiting, and we are here to help you get this right."

In an open letter to Burnham Rachel Williams, chief executive of LGBTQ+ youth charity The Proud Trust praised Burnham for supporting Manchester be a city where LGBTQ+ people “are welcomed, celebrated and valued”

“As Prime Minister, I hope you take that same commitment to inclusion with you, because from where we’re standing, many LGBTQ+ young people feel the progress they believed was permanent is beginning to slip away,” she said.

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