Civil Society Council Holds First Meeting at 10 Downing Street, 22 April 2026
Summary
The newly established Civil Society Council convened its inaugural meeting at 10 Downing Street on 22 April 2026, chaired by Kate Lee, with the Prime Minister and Minister for Procurement Chris Ward MP in attendance. The meeting focused on civil society's role in government, including a discussion on revising the definition of social value in public procurement to unlock opportunities for civil society organisations. Council members raised challenges around volunteering rates and small charity capacity, agreeing to progress actions in smaller working groups ahead of the next meeting.
“Civil Society needs to be meaningfully brought into the heart of government, the PM said, and that is why the launch of the Covenant, and the creation of this Council, have come at such an important time.”
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What changed
The Civil Society Council, a new advisory body, held its inaugural meeting at 10 Downing Street on 22 April 2026, bringing together civil society representatives, the Prime Minister, and Minister for Procurement Chris Ward MP. The meeting addressed civil society's role in government decision-making, with a specific focus on revising the definition of social value in public procurement to benefit civil society organisations. Members also discussed volunteering rates and small charity capacity challenges. The Council agreed to advance actions through smaller working groups with No10 support.
For compliance officers and public affairs professionals, this meeting signals a continued government focus on embedding civil society partnerships in public procurement through social value criteria. Organisations seeking public contracts should monitor forthcoming revisions to social value definitions, which may affect tender evaluation weighting. Civil society organisations and charities should engage with the Council's working groups on capacity and partnership frameworks.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
News story
Readout of the first meeting of the Civil Society Council: 22 April 2026
The new Civil Society Council met for the first time yesterday in 10 Downing Street.
From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street Published 23 April 2026
The new Civil Society Council met for the first time yesterday in 10 Downing Street.
The Prime Minister began by welcoming new members of the Council and recognising the important work of civil society in supporting those most in need.
Civil Society needs to be meaningfully brought into the heart of government, the PM said, and that is why the launch of the Covenant, and the creation of this Council, have come at such an important time. Partnership must be at the heart of this, where civil society and government come together to deliver better outcomes for the British people.
The PM concluded with the importance of building stronger, more united communities, and the need for government and civil society to work together in instilling hope for the future.
Chris Ward MP, the Minister for Procurement then set out his ambition for procurement processes that unlock opportunities for civil society, while delivering the services local communities need through a new definition of social value. Minister Ward outlined progress that had been made, and invited Council Members’ reflections on where challenges remained. The Minister agreed to work with Council Members and other civil society organisations in revising the definition of social value in procurement processes.
The Council then had a broader initial discussion in which Members raised a wide-ranging set of challenges and opportunities – from volunteering rates to civil society’s capacity levels, particularly amongst small charities. They also discussed what good partnership between government and civil society looks like, and the barriers that need to be resolved to embed this way of working.
The Council Chair, Kate Lee, concluded by thanking Council Members for a constructive discussion and agreed that actions should be taken forward in smaller groups, with the support of the No10 team, to drive progress ahead of the next meeting.
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Published 23 April 2026
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