Government grants and contracts

ACEVO wants to gather anonymous information about clauses in government grants and contracts that restrict or prohibit funds being used for advocacy and/or public affairs work, or that make reference to the grant-maker’s reputation.

Two examples of such clauses are shown below:

 “The Provider shall, shall not do anything (by act or omission) that would, or would be reasonably likely to:

(i) damage the reputation of the Authority or the Contractor;

(ii) bring the Authority or the Contractor into disrepute;

(iii) attract adverse publicity to the Authority or the Contractor; or

(iv) harm the confidence of the public in the Authority or the Contractor.”

(Department for Work and Pensions, contract, 2018)

Or

“The following costs are not Eligible Expenditure: payments that support activity intended to influence or attempt to influence Parliament, Government or political parties, or attempting to influence the awarding or renewal of contracts and grants, or attempting to influence legislative or regulatory action.”

(Office for Civil Society, grant, 2019)

We are interested in gathering responses from all forms of civil society organisations (e.g. charities, social enterprises, voluntary groups).

The anonymous information will be used to inform conversations with government about the nature and extent of challenges being faced by civil society organisations, and to support calls for reform.