How can VCSEs ask for, or how should they ask for, payment for their time without feeling awkward?

VCSEs need to be empowered to be more confident. The awkwardness reflects decades of being treated as the "third" sector, the one at the bottom of the pile after public and private sectors, and the in built assumptions that charitable bodies can operate for free.

A key action for the larger organisations is to train their staff to recognise the costs of running a VCSE organisation and create an environment where it is ok for VCSE to talk business speak.