Philanthropy’s involvement in bolstering civil society is growing. 

Nine new grants, at a total of £2 million, have been announced by the UK-based Paul Hamlyn Foundation as it aims to make civil society more equitable via its Backbone Fund, which hopes to support civil society leaders. 

Some of the funded organisations provide key infrastructure functions – like capacity building, policy and advocacy, influencing, networking and research. Some are ensuring that there is a more transparent voluntary sector.

Others are imagining new ways for civil society to tackle racial and economic injustice. 

In the latest round of the BackBone Fund, nine organisations received funding; 360Giving, Alliance for Youth Justice, Black Equity Organisation, Campaign for Freedom of Information, Good Ancestor Movement, Kinfolk Network, Positive Money, School of International Futures, and Systemic Justice. 

‘Each of these nine organisations has compelling ideas about how they can contribute to a shared vision of a socially just future. We hope the Backbone Fund’s renewed focus on building a wider ecology of infrastructure organisations will help to drive greater equity across civil society and more widely,’ said Moira Sinclair, Chief Executive, Paul Hamlyn Foundation. 

It reflects a potential renaissance of both civic and civil society. 

According to the Times newspaper, Britain’s Labour Party is drawing up plans to bypass civil servants by using a citizen assemblies to make key decisions. 

Sue Gray, the chief of staff to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, announced the plan. 

It is widely believed that the British Labour Party are on course to sweep the Conservative Party out of power in a general election this year, which has yet to be announced.  

Gray, in charge of the party’s preparations for governing, says plans are being drawn up on how to involve the public directly in issues such as constitutional reform, devolution and housing plans. 

Citizens assemblies have made the headlines in recent weeks following the publicity over Austrian philanthropist Marlene Engelhorn, who decided to distribute 25 million euros from her inheritance. Instead of deciding of how and where that money is spent, an assembly best comprising of Austria’s population demographics will meet and decide how best to distribute her wealth. 

Invitations to join were sent in January to 10,000 randomly selected people in Austria. Statistical methods will be used to select 50 adults. Engelhorn says she will have no say over the council, except that they will be reimbursed for their time spent.  

Shafi Musaddique is the news editor at Alliance magazine.