Abstract
As the UK government seeks to (re)-establish a high-trust relationship with citizens, voluntary sector organisations (VSOs) are being incorporated within the state in ways that are designed to shift blame and risk away from government. This is not a straightforward process: as the government seeks to manage trust relationships through this engagement with VSOs, significant new risks are being generated for e-government. In conceptualising this emerging relationship between government and VSOs as concerned with trust, blame, and risk, this essay brings fresh perspective to the deepening debate about how government and voluntary sector are re-positioning their relationship.