Commissioning Academy Civil Society Programme pilot launched
The government has launched the Commissioning Academy Civil Society Programme pilot, a new part of the Cabinet Office Commissioning Academy.
![](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a37da9ded915d5a5f965f9c/s300_cabinet-office.jpg)
The Office for Civil Society (OCS), part of the Cabinet Office, has launched the Commissioning Academy Civil Society Programme, a new part of the Commissioning Academy. It will support better public sector commissioning by helping commissioners understand and use a range of innovative civil society techniques.
The government aims to support better commissioning across the UK. Over the past 5 years, we have been working to develop training and skills to help commissioners deal with the challenges that public services present and provide better services at a lower cost. This also includes making the most of the contribution that the voluntary sector, communities and service users can make.
We have listened to feedback about supporting commissioners to use tools and techniques from the voluntary sector to provide better public services. The Commissioning Academy Civil Society Programme will build on the success of the Commissioning Academy in doing this.
The pilot will trial an intensive, interactive model where public service commissioners will work on a real life commissioning challenge through a range of expert speakers, site visits and service user sessions. Attendees will learn about civil society approaches to topics such as getting value for money, co-commissioning for joint outcomes, mobilising service users and communities, and working with the voluntary sector.
The pilot will take place in the City of London and the London Borough of Hackney, looking at young people’s mental health and wellbeing. OCS will run the pilot in partnership with RedQuadrant.
We will select attendees for the first pilot from the City of London and the London Borough of Hackney.
OCS will also maintain an information network to share learning from the pilot. If you would like to join this network, email the Commissioning Academy Civil Society Programme.
Rob Wilson, Minister for Civil Society, said:
We have listened carefully to feedback about the importance of supporting commissioners to design better quality, more efficient services and to build the commissioning skills which can make the most of the expertise and innovation of the voluntary sector.
This is why we have been working with the Commissioning Academy to develop the Commissioning Academy Civil Society Programme and I am delighted to announce the pilot with City of London and the London Borough of Hackney today. I look forward to seeing the results of this pilot on this important issue over the coming months.