First person
Nick Seddon talks about sector independence, governance leadership and fell walking
What started your interest in the sector?
I come from a Christian background and from a young age my two sisters and I were involved in some sort of voluntary or charitable activity. The first gesture I made in the right direction for myself was going on a gap year with Schools Partnership Worldwide in Nepal.
And at university I did all sorts of voluntary activities, but it was only when I started writing Who Cares? that I became more fully immersed in it.
Why the move to a think tank?
At Cambridge I read English, worked hard and played hard, and then did a masters on a ludicrously obscure bit of John Donne which I hated – the original interest in literary criticism in the early 20th century was about making literature more accessible, but by the end of that period it seemed like more of an academic job provision scheme.
At the same time I was writing reviews and doing arts journalism following my original intent – to elucidate. It was at this point I renewed my interest in policy and policy-making, so I joined Civitas, covering health, education and crime.
Why did Who Cares? cause such a stir?
I said charities were not independent enough and the public didn’t really know about this. And that there was a lack of transparency round this and the only way to change this was to classify charities according to the amount of income they get from statutory sources.
Everyone just went ‘ how dare you say that, we are all independent’, but senior figures in some major charities had admitted that there was a major problem of being dependent on a single funding source.
So in your book a dominant funding source compromises independence?
It’s obvious. Would you take seriously a report on family policy entirely funded by the DCSF? Of course you wouldn’t! The only way you can be independent is if you diversify your funding sources, end of story. Otherwise you jump when your funder tells you to jump. It doesn’t matter what kind of organisation you are – he who has the money calls the shots.
What’s it like being one of the youngest chairs of trustees?
There does seem to be a semi-implicit question about whether someone as young as me can chair a board. The opportunity to chair is a huge privilege. There is a colossal amount of experience on the board – from journalism to the financial sector, to charities and foundations right up to people beyond retirement age.
I said to the board: ‘I will do that active role of being a chair on the condition that you will support me and share your expertise and wisdom.’
How do you get decisions through?
I am learning all the time. The bottom line is a powerful driver but board meetings should involve a certain amount of going round in circles as we need that thinking time. A chair listens and then says: ‘I have heard it all and now we are going in this direction.’
What are the main issues facing the sector?
One of the problems for charities becoming dependent on state funding is they have lost the habit of fundraising. A number of charities have admitted: ‘we reached a point where we have not had to fundraise. And now someone has taken away 20 per cent of our funding overnight we have had to re-learn fundraising.’
In a connected way, the government will outsource more, but this will create a market and markets are brutal places. Charity contracts and grants create an asymmetry of power. A contract is difficult for a small charity to deal with and over the next few years the sector will be competing with SMEs and organisations like Serco. It’s going to be tough.
What about transparency?
People want more information and data about charities, and evidence that the organisations they support are providing value for money. Every
politician under the sun wants to align themselves with a charity – they are great brands. But as the profile rises, so does public scrutiny.
What are your personal goals for the next 10 years?
Crystal ball gazing doesn’t take much crystal but it does take a lot of balls. Don’t know…but I like to think I will continue to do what I enjoy – being involved in debate and research and driving progress.
How do you relax?
Running. I’ve been running marathons for 15 years but don’t like roads, so lots of cross country and off road work. I’ve done four mountain marathons, I climb and ski. And on a day-to-day basis it’s reading, music and cooking.
What about the music?
As Nietzsche puts it, ‘without music this world would be a mistake’. Wagner’s Gotterdämmerung gives me all the solace and nourishment I need as a person –
it is utterly transforming. Bach’s partitas and Beethoven’s late string quartets make me very happy.
Books?
Just re-read Paradise Lost – sensational. I also come back to Dostoevsky constantly, along with Graham Greene and Philip Roth. Alex Ross’ The Rest is Noise, which is a book about 20th century music, is superb.
Worst of times
My godfather, Eric, dying of cancer two years ago. He was a vicar and a real mentor to me. He left me his Mont Blanc fountain pen with the words: ‘Nick, to help you in your pursuit of freedom and truth.’
Best of times
Meeting my wife – the morning after the night we met we woke up on Hampstead Heath overlooking London – it was one of the most romantic moments of my life.
Author: Nick Seddon
Nick Seddon is deputy director of Reform and was formerly a research fellow at thinktank Civitas.
He has been a regular contributor to the Guardian and the Economist, and has written features and articles on social policy and the arts for The Sunday Times, the Observer, Lancet, Spectator and Time Out.
His book, Who Cares?, explored the relationship between third sector organisations and statutory agencies. Nick is a Member of the NCVO’s advisory board and chairman of the Directory of Social Change, an independent charity.
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