A group of charity leaders has formed a lobbying group to “bring expert insight into the heart of government”.
The Social Insights Panel has been launched by think tank Future Governance Forum and involves a raft of charity chief executives and other senior figures in the sector to “enhance government decision making”.
It is being led by former Shelter and Women’s Aid CEO Polly Neate, who this month was named as a crossbench peer.
Also involved are British Red Cross CEO and St Mungo's chair Mike Adamson, Henry Smith foundation CEO Anand Shukla and Chris Wright, who is CEO of Catch 22.
Two Magpies Fund CEO Kirtsten Westlake, Caroline Slock, who is co-founder of the Better Way Network and a former Downing Street private secretary are among other panel members.
RECLAIM founder Ruth Ibegbuna, and former My Sister’s Place and Wearside Women in Need CEO Becky Rogerson also sit on the panel.
Issues around violence against women and girls, transitions to adulthood, and integrated family support are among issues being looked at during its initial phase.
“To reform public services or set policy direction on some of our most intractable societal challenges without the wisdom of civil society would be a dangerous error,” said Neate.
“Civil society leaders nationally and in communities hold a wealth of knowledge and experience about why these challenges arise and how to address them.
“But often their views are not sought outside of the silos of government departmental priorities.”
She added: “The Social Insights Panel will create a space where that knowledge can be brought into government decision-making at an early stage, so cross-cutting policy is shaped by lived experience, best practice and systemic understanding.”
Adamson added: “The UK’s civil society sectors have long been at the forefront of innovation and systems change. The Social Insights Panel is a chance to make sure that innovation informs national policy.”
Findings from the panel, which met for the first time this week, will be published in a series of reports
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