Voluntary group chiefs have lauded an interim report by the Conservatives entitled Breakdown Britain, which emphasises the important role of third sector organisations.

Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (acevo), praised the report by the Conservative Party Justice Policy Group for recognising the pivotal and unsung work of charity workers and volunteers.

“Third sector leaders will be delighted that the Conservatives are championing our role in tackling the causes of poverty,” he said.

Breakdown Britain identifies the important efforts of the third sector in combating “family breakdown, educational underachievement, drug and alcohol addiction, worklessness and consumer indebtedness”, Mr Bubb continued.

“As the policy group states, this sector is significantly under-used and under-supported in the fight against poverty today. Given greater resources and freedoms, we could achieve far more,” the acevo chief executive concluded.

The Tory report – which follows a recent Third Sector Public Service Delivery action plan from the government – calls for more confidence in the sector, greater cooperation and stronger leadership.