1. 1 Devolved Governance, Political Participation and Third Sector Equalities Organisations in Wales Paul Chaney Chaneyp@cardiff.ac.uk

2. 2 Content Aims/ methods/ evaluation criteria Context The Third Sector in Wales ‘ Inclusive Governance ’ – structures of engagement (?) Evidence: the nature and extent of post- devolution engagement in work of govt. –Ministerial meetings with 3 rd sector reps –Govt. Funding of third sector policy networks –Assembly cross- party equality committee –The views of members of 3 rd sector orgs –Petitions Committee –Electoral Politics Summary: Critical evaluation of third sector

3. 3 Methods/ Evaluation Criteria Methods –Qualitative – semi structured interviews –Purposive sample 3 rd sector equalities organisations Evaluation Criteria –Pro-devolution discourse > ‘ a new, more inclusive and participatory democracy ’ (Welsh Office,1998:19). –Neo-institutionalist perspective –Mainstreaming

4. 4 Mainstreaming: ‘ the integration of respect for diversity and equality of opportunity principles, strategies and practices into the every day work of [government … ] and other public bodies. It means that equality issues should be included from the outset as an integral part of the policy- making and service delivery process and the achievement of equality should inform all aspects of the work of every individual within an organisation ’. (NAfW 2004:6).

5. 5 Context: Devolution and the Discourse of 3 rd Sector engagement Third Sector offers alternative to centralised state practices (Hain, 1999). the Assembly will be able to develop … [a] partnership; the Government will encourage it to harness the special contribution which voluntary organizations can make in a wide range of policy areas ’ (Welsh Office, 1998:19). ‘ if the Assembly is to fulfil the expectations of operating inclusively and in partnership with others, then it will need to work closely with voluntary and community organizations ’ (WCVA, 1999:8).

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7. 7 ‘Inclusive Governance’ – structures of 3 rd sector engagement (?) Statutory Equality Duty (S.77, GOWA) Cross- Party Equality Committee (Standing Order 17) WAG Equality and Human Rights Unit Voluntary Sector Scheme (S.74 GOWA, 2006) –Third Sector Partnership Council Petitions Committee (post GOWA, 2006) (SO.28)

8. 8 Voluntary Sector Scheme ‘ the goal is the creation of a civil society which: has a duty to promote equality of opportunity to all its members regardless of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, language preference, religion or family/domestic responsibilities ’ (NAfW, 2000).

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10. 10 State Sponsoring of 3 rd Sector Equalities Networks Welsh Assembly Government Funded Equality Policy Networks. All Wales Ethnic Minority Association (AWEMA); Women ’ s Voice/ Welsh Women ’ s National Coalition (WWNC); LGB Forum Cymru/ Stonewall Cymru; Minority Ethnic Women ’ s Network Cymru (MEWN); Disability Wales; Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales Policy Networks around Equality and Rights for Children. Accompanied and Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers Network; All Wales Children and Young People ’ s Advocacy Providers Network; Children ’ s Rights Practice Exchange Groups; The Disabled Children Policy Group; The Forum on Issues for Disabled Children; The Early Years and Childcare Advisory Group; End Child Poverty Network Cymru; Fatherhood Wales Forum, Fatherhood Wales Policy Group; Fforwm Magu Plant/Parenting Forum; Looking After Health Exchange; The Sure Start Network; The Young Disabled Persons ’ Network; Young Carers Workers ’ Network; Children and Young People ’ s Participation in Cymru Network; and, Participation Workers ’ Network Wales

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12. 12 The Views of Members of 3 rd Sector Equality Organisations General acknowledgement: positive effect of new structures of engagement/ political recognition –“ I ’ ve been here long enough to remember things before [i.e. during the Welsh Office] – things have changed for the better in my view ’. Small orgs concerns ‘ uneven playing field ’ > bigger, better funded 3 rd sector orgs greatest influence in policy circles (e.g. children ’ s and youth organisations) State funding ‘ invaluable ’ – recipient orgs Steep post- ’ 99 ‘ learning curve ’ in engaging with devolved policy work A devolved equalities “ Lobby ”

13. 13 Concern over bureaucratisation / drawn into govt agenda “ homogenisation ” of equality strand representation “ Steep learning curve ” > Policy work Majority of interviewees positive about electronic means of political engagement Complexity of Welsh devolution settlement > challenge to 3 rd sector orgs Key issue: State funding of 3 rd sector networks/ orgs > interviewees acknowledged potential effect on autonomy Concerns over “ representativeness ” of TSPC networks

14. 14 Views of 3 rd Sector Equality Organisations 3. Interviewees expressed need for govt.to broaden the circles of 3 rd sector engagement mixed views on whether voices heard in policy consultations/ effectiveness of their lobbying Children, older people, learning disabilities, Muslim women cited good policy influence In contrast a minority, inc. ‘ race ’ equality orgs felt they were ignored – “ not a partnership of equals ” Increasing competition over access/ “ dilution of influence ” increasing role of cross-border 3 rd sector equality orgs

15. 15 Petitions Committee 10% of admissible petitions put forward / supported by third sector equalities organisations and concerned with equalities issues Examples: Disability > Extend Provision of Accessible Bus Services (P-03-090); increase the number of people with a learning disability employed by the public sector in Wales (P- 03-170) Interviewees: benefits > accessibility, transparency and cost effective nature On line tracking of progress/ deliberations. Evidence Does it work? > Coleg Ffederal

16. 16 Electoral Politics 3 rd sector equalities orgs. issuing own equalities manifestos > all-Wales elections Individual orgs issuing own manifestos (e.g. Cerebral palsy org. called on govt. ‘ banish disablism ’ through public procurement) Alliances of equalities NGOs issuing manifestos on single policy issues (e.g. free home care for disabled people, child poverty etc) Alliances of equalities NGOs issuing manifestos on all aspects of equality (e.g. Welsh Equality Reference Group) Effect? Parties/ candidates signing up to adopt 3 rd sector orgs proposals (e.g. Welsh Refugee Council/ ‘ One Wales ’ )

17. 17 Summary: Critical Evaluation of Equality Organisations’ Political Participation Devolution > development of a nascent “ equalities policy lobby ” New governance structures > increased “ system openness ” – giving 3 rd sector equalities orgs. voice in policymaking General continuity of govt. ‘ policy style ’ Issues of representativeness of TSPC /neo- corporatism concerns > bureaucratisation and professionalisation of 3 rd sector equalities orgs.

18. 18 Summary: Critical Evaluation of Equality Organisations’ Political Participation Significant discontinuity with pre. devo era Rights, recognition, redistribution Governance structures facilitate engagement Failure to ‘ mainstream ’ Growing capacity of 3 rd sector eq. Orgs to engage in policymaking Danger of co-option into govt. agenda Need to broaden circles of engagement Danger of replacing one elite process with another

19. 19 Summary: Critical Evaluation of Equality Organisations’ Political Participation Mainstreaming? –“ authentic voices ” > limited no. of orgs. tended to dominate dealing with the state for each equality strand –much unevenness across govt. depts in addressing equalities issues in policy –Monitoring and evaluation: interviewees concerned> seldom asked for their views on effectiveness of past policies + lessons learned – concerns > govt. devoted much attention to some equality strands (e.g. gender, children, older people) – yet others felt ignored (e.g. race, faith) –Concerns > govt. ’ s general failure to apply basic mainstreaming tools e.g. equality impact assessments and gender/ equalities budgeting