VSNW Big Society Policy Resource

Review of Big Society by Nick Hurd

2011-12-12T14:49:00.000Z

The following article, written by Alison Thomas, appeared in today's Public Service Magazine.

In it, Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, gives a succinct summary of the Office for Civil Society's activities over the last 18 months.

Nick Hurd MP
Minister for Civil Society

==============================================
Revealing the Bigger Picture

Big Society – it's about a profound culture change... about how community should work, how public services should be shaped, insists the minister for civil society, Nick Hurd. He tells Alison Thomas why 'thinking big but starting small' will enable communities to help themselves to a better future

It's almost a "What did the Romans ever do for us?" moment. Suggest to Nick Hurd that Big Society might be more rhetoric than reality and the minister for civil society responds with an air of pained exasperation and an exhaustive list of everything he has been busy with in 18 months in the Cabinet Office.

There's the fledgling Big Society bank, now called Big Society Capital; the development of social impact bonds and payment by results contracts; the launch of a national citizenship service for teenagers, with 30,000 places commissioned for next year following the initial pilots; the recruitment of 5,000 community organisers; the social action fund; the Giving White Paper; the Public Service Reform White Paper…the list goes on.

"I get very frustrated when people say that Big Society is just a soundbite," Hurd concludes. "There is a massive amount of activity going on – and it's real."

The big picture across government is of a "massive and very radical ambition" to transfer power to communities, open up public services and encourage more social action, reflected in everything from the Localism Bill to free schools, from increased transparency on public spending and data to removing red tape.

But when it comes to the detail of this massive ambition, Rome wasn't built in a day. Big Society Capital, involving a £200m contribution from the big banks signed up to Project Merlin, plus some £400m from dormant bank accounts, has been "very intricate and fantastically complicated to put together".

Similarly, growing a "quite fragile and embryonic" social investment market and developing social impact bonds takes time, but has great potential, he says, for "financing innovation in a system where we have quite a lot of aversion to risk" and opening up access to "potentially a huge pool of money people can lend for social aims".

"We as savers aren't presented with opportunities to do that at the moment," he says.

Hurd is also keen to "unlock the energy and enthusiasm" of public sector staff through mentoring and support to form social enterprises and mutuals.

"It's a powerful way of changing the system, but very culturally challenging," he says. "It's a fantastic opportunity to reconnect a lot of people in the public sector with the reason they joined in the first place. We have gone far too far in killing that passion through monstrous micro-management and target setting."

Meanwhile he has no truck with the accusation that Big Society is a smokescreen for spending cuts – pointing out that the government has, on the contrary, been completely upfront about cutting spending.

"It is just nonsense to say it is a cover for cuts," Hurd says. "We are not using any cover for the cuts – in fact we have been extremely frank with the electorate about the need for this to happen."

Instead, Big Society is about "a profound culture change," he insists. "It's about how community should work, how public services should be shaped. There is too much power and responsibility with government. We have lost vitality as communities and some sense of our own powers, and we want to change that, but it won't happen overnight."

While there is a "huge amount" of work going on to provide citizens with more information, power and responsibility, he concedes there is also a "huge" contradiction in a grassroots call to arms coming top-down from Whitehall.

"Big Society is still being depicted as a government programme, but while government has a hugely important role to play in changing the framework, civil society also has a huge role to play, business has too, and we are looking for a better partnership between all of them.

"Government can change the environment, give people power and information. But at the end of the day it's kind of up to all of us how we respond."

There are swings and roundabouts in the current economic circumstances, he says – the most glaring negative being that charities and social enterprises have to "take their share of the pain" as public spending is cut.

"They are saying that we are asking them to do more and at the same time cutting funds. The answer is that we are determined to create a really substantial opportunity for civil society to play a more substantial role – that's a space we are trying to build.

"But that's in the medium term; in the short term we have this absolutely overriding imperative – we have got to get on top of borrowing. It is in the interests of the social sector along with everyone else for the economy to be stable and moving back into prosperity."

The government is seeking to minimise damage through a transition fund, while "clearly signaling" to local authorities that they should not make "disproportionate" cuts to the voluntary sector. "In some councils, such as Reading, they have listened to that message; in others there have been cuts and that's a problem.

"Our ability to instruct local authorities from the centre has been curtailed – we are in the business of persuasion here. I'm delighted that there are lots of fabulous examples of local authorities embracing this agenda and engaging the people they serve in the decision-making process.

"It's very frustrating to see others slashing, losing a huge amount of value that will have to be rebuilt. We have done our best to give clear guidance that this is not the behaviour we want to see. But at the end of the day they have to take their own decisions and be accountable for that."

A positive of the spending squeeze is that tight budgets provide a "fantastic environment" for innovation, he says. "You have a window of opportunity to really try and find better ways of doing things."

A second positive is a growing sense of social responsibility. "I think people do recognise that the country is going through a tough time and there is an instinct to be helpful," Hurd says.

One piece of evidence for that, he adds, is the businesses beating a path to his door, seeking to build connections to the voluntary and community sector.

"There is a real need to form better connections and we are only scratching the surface of what that can achieve. In the current environment people are much more open to that conversation because they have a sense of that need."

The summer riots in English cities were also "a bit of a wake-up call" to the social as well as economic challenges the government and the country face.

"The riots shocked me most because there was a real sense of young people who felt they had nothing to lose, no sense of engagement with their community at all or loyalty to that community," Hurd says.

But he is willing to bet that no youngsters who had been through the national citizenship programme would have been involved.

"I am really thrilled with how young people have responded to it," he says. "One of the key things about the programme is to throw together kids from very different backgrounds. I think that's enormously valuable for society. It is chock-full of adventure, going away from home, doing rock climbing, canyoning and all kinds of stuff in teams.

"Crucially, they are then challenged to set up and run a community action project back in their own community and see the positive contribution they can make. They are given a better sense of how their community works and their place in it and contribution to it. It can change their perception of themselves and their community."

As with some other Big Society initiatives, success will be based on "thinking big but starting small".

"It's expensive and we have to be sure it delivers value for money," Hurd says. "Things are happening – slower than most of us would like. But it is very important to have these pilots, controlled case studies of doing things in different ways, moving beyond theory, so that we can point to a track record of doing things differently and getting better outcomes at a lower price.

"People shouldn't underestimate how big a culture change this is, how different it is.

"The key thing is political leadership. Our aim is to get behind the leadership within the system that really does see the need to do things differently, that wants to try and needs some support. If we can prove that it works and point to successes then it starts to percolate across."

Link to the article: Revealing the Bigger Picture

Big Society and the Work Programme

2011-10-11T11:54:00.002+01:00

As part of a vox pops at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Nicky Campbell (4th October 2011, Radio Five Live) asks what delegates are personally doing for Big Society. The following includes Iain Duncan Smith's response, the Minister for DWP and the Work Programmme (from 0.49).

This comes at a time when there is growing evidence that the Work Programme:

contradicts the principles of the Open Public Services White Paper
does not embody the notion of Big Society

There are two main probems running side by side: firstly the Work Programme's prime contractor model combined with the payment system (which leaves prime contractors in no-man's land); secondly, the Work Programme doesn't just replace the old DWP rationalised programmes but also a whole raft of local initiatives that disappeared with the withdrawal of the Area Based Grants. The top down system has nothing to meet and nothing to tie into. The vast raft of local delivery groups that make a real difference are disappearing at a rapid speed.

It is these groups that need an honest opportunity to engage. As one experienced local BME delivery group in hard hit Lancashire, reflecting on a conversation with a prime contractor, expressed it recently:

“It’s like being offered the chance to run 100m in 10 seconds. We can’t do it. But if we don’t try no-one will…we’ve got to try otherwise the Work Programme won’t help the young people in our community.” (Joint submission VSNW, 1NW and WSF)

It is our contention that the Work Programme engages far fewer groups in delivery than were previously engaged through the replaced initiatives. There is significant evidence to suggest that The Work Programme has been implemented as a top down, centrally delivered framework at the expense of local delivery, local capacity and local partnership-based working.

As such it threatens to remove many local people and communities of interest out of the loop of delivery and opportunity.

It operates in a manner consistent with the worst kind of Big Government delivery programme and is antithetical to the principles of Fairness, Accountability, Diversity of Provider and Choice. The model of the Work Programme framework does not put choice and control in the hands of people and local communities and does not offer an adequate explanation as to how current delivery, particularly in the context of the other four principles, is the most appropriate level of decentralisation

The principle of decentralisation states that: “power should be decentralised to the lowest appropriate level”. The desire is to put “control of public services … as close to people as possible” (OPSWP 2011, page 8).

The Work Programme is held up as an exemplar that will be replicated across all service areas. Point 5.3 of the OPSWP says that: The Work Programme is devolving responsibility and transferring risk to providers...We will look at how this approach can be extended to other services.’

This is concerning for many VCS organisations that are involved in this particular process. Voluntary Sector North West has recently coordinated a meeting with Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society, with frontline VCS organisations. The Work Programme was a major issue. Subsequently we arranged a meeting of VCS organisations named in the supply chain of the appointed Prime Contractors across the two North West ‘Lots’ . The following nine issues came up:

Prime Contractors appear to continually move the goal posts: In the vast majority of cases organisations are finding it hard to communicate with Prime Contractors. There seem to be regular changes to the personnel in terms of who to contact, lack of clarity of what is required and occasional ‘spurts’ in demand for information.
Organisations are often requested to undertake significant amounts of work to present to Prime Contractors which then, despite the urgency in the first instance, lead to long waits for responses only to discover that goalposts had been moved once again. In some instances organisations have undertaken training courses with the Prime Contractor yet are still not in the position to agree a contract.
Many organisations do not understand how they would, if necessary, get out of contracts that they have signed with Prime Contractors, break clauses appear to be one way.
Contracts being offered to organisations are too small to be sustainable. One Prime Contractor has now advised that organizations who are part of their ‘Knowledge Bank’ will not be receiving any formal contracts. Several organisations are suggesting that the size of contracts being offered is not going to allow for them to remain sustainable. Whilst this may be an issue for negotiations, there is a danger that providers will not survive at all in the medium term and this could have a detrimental impact on the overall delivery of the Work Programme.
Prime Contractors are attempting to pass on the liability for their contract with DWP in full to small, vulnerable organisations. There are a large number of issues related to the nature of contracting between the third sector organisations and the Prime Contractors that seem to place the balance of risk disproportionately on the sector. Specific examples include Prime Contractors imposing fines upwards of £5000 for unspecified irregularities.
There is currently no proportionality between the size of contracts, the amount of time they take to negotiate and the costs of insurance/indemnity etc.
In respect of the previous two points, there is significant concern about proportionality in contracts, some is about the sheer length and legalese of the contracts, and some is about the scale of indemnity insurance required when the contract is small. Some groups have accessed free support from lawyers and others had to pay significant fees to assure themselves that the contracts were appropriate. Several Prime Contractors have quoted DWP advice for passing down the risk and we will write to the DWP to learn the truth behind this issue.
There is a need to monitor what VCS organisations are ending up contributing to the Work Programme for no or inadequate payment. Many organisations have expressed concern that Prime Contractors are attempting to access third sector services free of charge. This is especially evident in areas around use of volunteering as a pathway to work and also advice services. This risks putting severe additional pressure on the system of some of the most important services supporting individuals and communities. We will seek to monitor how and where Prime Contractors are utilising resources in an inappropriate fashion that threatens the long term sustainability of third sector service providers.
The expense of complying with Prime Contractors’ security requirements will be prohibitive for many organisations. Whilst good and effective secure IT systems are vital, there is some concern that many still do not fully understand the implications of the infrastructure required. The costs and nature of the security need to be made clear at the outset and third sector providers may need additional support in reaching the desired standard with some Prime Contractors.

There is a concern that the capacity of local voluntary and community sector welfare to work delivery is being decimated at a time when demand is sharply rising. Several changes in funding streams are combining in a critical manner, particularly in the North West:

The end of area based grants (ABG) in the North West (where 21 of 39 areas were in receipt – approximately a quarter of all of England’s ABG funding) which laid great emphasis on tackling worklessness.
Cuts to council budgets are having a knock-on effect on grant pots which have often been used to address the most pressing problems at a community level.
Shifts in EU and cuts in North West Development Agency funding has ended much community-led or community-linked regeneration as well as targeted employment and training support activity.
The rerouting of DWP’s funding through the Work Programme whilst simplifying the system has cut out many specialist VCS delivery groups which the new framework currently looks unsuited to engaging and who hold particular expertise in engaging communities.
The commissioning of larger contracts to larger organisations, often from the private sector, has resulted in very few voluntary sector providers being able to compete. This leaves many smaller organisations, with local reach and good knowledge of needs excluded, whilst the larger private sector organisations that can often not deliver the specialist and tailored provision that is required win the contract.

By way of a sample of the previous depth and capabilities of previous local authority-local VCS welfare-to-work activity, VSNW worked with the University of Manchester and the regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (NWIEP) to map and evidence activity:

Tackling Worklessness in the North West (University of Manchester: 2009), online report and video
Summary focused on the Third Sector Tackling Worklessness (VSNW: 2010)

Whitehall needs a proper Big Society delivery plan

2011-09-26T15:50:00.001+01:00

The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) chaired by Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative MP, has found that...

"...the centre of Government does not provide the necessary strategic leadership and ... governance framework to enable Departments to manage their change programmes. ...

"Our overall conclusion is stark: unless the government can rapidly develop and implement a comprehensive plan for cross‐departmental reform in Whitehall, the Government's wider ambitions for public service reform, the Big Society, localism and decentralisation will fail. ..."

"Change must be driven; it will not just happen."

Leadership needed across Whitehall
This latest report, Change in Government: the agenda for leadership, follows the line of scrutiny of last October's (2010) report on National Strategy. Then, the Committee concluded that the answer "... to the question, 'Who does UK National Strategy?': is no-one".

While critical of "civil service inertia", PASC recommend that the Government "produce a comprehensive [cross-Departmental] change programme ... [with] ... much more vigorous leadership." In contrast to Francis Maude's (Cabinet Office Minister's) insistence that "the last thing the government needs is a new plan or blueprint", the Committee state that:

"... proper leadership and governance of the reform of Whitehall is the one thing that simply cannot be delegated to this system. We emphasise that these reforms need a clear political lead."

"In short, the Government has not got a change programme: Ministers just want change to happen: but without a plan, change will be defeated by inertia." (para 61). In other words, even a 'Small Government' needs a programme of change if not a full-blown, hands-on delivery programme.

The report lists a number of contributory points including:

Civil servants need new skills: eg "working with the VCS". Not only should Civil servants have the ability to work across silos but also... "... the ability to engage with voluntary and private sector organisations to contract and commission public services. A conscious development programme here is essential. What concerns us is that in some cases Departments are not identifying the roles and capabilities required. So savings programmes are throwing out the good with the bad."
"'Data dumping' does not on its own constitute transparency and good governance." The open data project is not in itself enough - worrying given that CLG's programme to encourage people to use this data has now, according to its Departmental Business plan, finished.

Government's Social Investment Strategy

2011-09-23T10:46:00.001+01:00

Earlier this year the Government published their Social Investment Strategy:
Growing the Social Investment Market: A vision and strategy

Pitched as a third pillar of finance for civil society groups alongside public sector funds and donations, the Strategy :

"... sets out the Government’s vision of a thriving social investment market where social ventures can access the capital they need to grow, allowing them to do more to help build a bigger, stronger society. We also set out a strategy for achieving the vision, explaining how Government and others can act, including the key role of the Big Society Bank as a wholesale investor and champion of the market."

Following this, NAVCA published the following helpful briefing on the strategy:

Big Society Bank launch

2011-08-08T16:21:00.001+01:00

Below is the press release summarising the latest news on the launch of the Big Society Bank, which will include NESTA, Esmee Fairburn and the Association of Charitable Foundations on the Board while a watchdog/holding body Big Society Trust will include acevo, Community Links and the Social Enterprise Coalition...

The objectives, according to the proposed outline document, will be to help:

Develop intermediaries to operate effectively between sources of capital and those in need, be they social ventures or individuals, and so to augment the flow of investment and skills to the social sector;
Connect social entrepreneurs to the capital markets so that they can access growth capital;
Support financial innovation so that social organisations can be rewarded for their performance in delivering valued social outcomes;
Develop the investor market through the creation of social investment vehicles that support high growth ventures, as well as smaller local organisations; and
Support the development of community-led, social enterprise initiatives to improve opportunities for young people.

The emphasis is very much on loan finance and social enterprises (presumably less reliant on public sector contracts and grants) however there are plans to work with grant making bodies:

"The BSB will not be a grant-making organisation. Funds deployed will therefore seek both financial and social returns. It is expected, however, that it will often partner with grant-making institutions such as the Big Lottery Fund (BLF), NESTA and foundations that share the BSB’s objectives.

"We are mindful of the need for a wide regional spread of investments across the UK and this will be a factor in decision-making.

"In modelling the financial performance of the BSB, we have split the demand for capital into five categories:
1. Co-investment of equity or debt in social-purpose funds managed by intermediaries;

2. Provision of subordinated capital to social investment intermediaries and funds;

3. Investment in existing intermediaries;

4. Investment ("redeemable equity") in infrastructure organisations; and

5. Investment and underwriting for innovative financial products.

There are three main structures linked to the Banks and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) that centre on an operating Company Limited by Shares (CLS):

The proposed Operating Company will look like this with 4 staff ensuring "regional spread of investments":

A key role will be drawing in other social investment and grant investment.

We hope that Foundations, Trusts and local public bodies are especially considerate of the extent to which they compliment central Government's policy agenda and the extent to which they maintain their independence.

The true test will be the extent to which 'Big Society Capital' increases giving without merely channelling other funding sources down one road. At odds with the aims of Big Society Capital, such channelling could create a charitable sector that is paradoxically more homogenous and less resilient to future changes in need and vision.

Now that a central financial vehicle is in place, it will be important to see the extent to which its role in influencing other funding streams will emphasise the need of communities to play a central part in where the money goes. A clear statement about the principles for influencing would be helpful and could be part of the Trust's remit.

PRESS RELEASE
======

The vision for a Big Society came much closer today [29th July] as the Big Society Bank – now officially named Big Society Capital – became a reality with the establishment of two expert boards.

In addition the first investment from dormant accounts has gone to the Private Equity Foundation, an organisation whose mission it is to support disadvantaged young people into employment, education or training.

Sir Ronald Cohen, renowned pioneer of venture capital, has agreed to serve as the unpaid, interim Chair of Big Society Capital Limited, the operating company of the group, until it is fully operational and its Board has conducted a search for a more permanent Chair. Nick O’Donohoe, formerly Global Head of Research at JP Morgan, will take the helm as Big Society Capital’s first CEO. An experienced board will be working with them to lead this truly groundbreaking initiative as it transforms the world of social finance for charities and social enterprises:

Sir Ronald Cohen, Chair (the Portland Trust and Bridges Ventures)
Nick O’ Donohoe, CEO (formerly JP Morgan)
Dawn Austwick (Esmee Fairbairn Foundation)
David Carrington (Independent Consultant)
John Kingston (Association of Charitable Foundations)
Geoff Mulgan (National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts)
Dai Powell (HCT Group)
Lady Susan Rice (Lloyds Banking Group)
Danielle Walker Palmour (Friends Provident Foundation)

The Board of the Big Society Trust, responsible for ensuring the group stays true to its mission, has also been appointed. Members represent a wide spread of leaders in the social and financial sectors:

Sir Richard Lambert (University of Warwick)
Ian Davis (formerly McKinsey & Co)
Baroness Pitkeathley (House of Lords)
David Robinson (Community Links)
Sir Stephen Bubb (CEO of ACEVO) ex officio in rotation every three years with NCVO
Peter Holbrook (CEO of Social Enterprise Coalition) ex officio
Gareth Davies (Cabinet Office) ex officio
Sir Ronald Cohen (Chair of BSC) ex officio

Big Society Capital will be run independently from government with decisions around funding being made by an impartial investment committee. It will play a critical role in speeding up the growth of the social investment market. Socially orientated financial organisations will have greater access to affordable capital, using an estimated £400million in unclaimed assets left dormant in bank accounts for over 15 years and £200million from the UK’s largest high street banks. Big Society Capital and the four Merlin banks have also come to an agreement on heads of terms for the banks' £200m investment in the company.

Prime Minister, David Cameron, said:

When I announced the idea of a Big Society Bank, I wanted to help social enterprises and other groups to grow and expand their vital work. I am delighted that with today’s announcement of the organisation’s first investment, this vision is becoming a reality.

I’ve seen the amazing work that Britain’s social enterprises already do to tackle some of our country’s most intractable problems. I believe that Big Society Capital will play a major role in injecting significant resources and financial innovation into these social enterprises, while at the same time attracting further funding from charitable foundations, private individuals and other investors. That’s why I wholeheartedly welcome today's launch and the organisation’s first investment.

Douglas Flint (Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plc), Stephen Hester (Group Chief Executive, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group), Antonio Horta-Osorio (Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group plc), and Bob Diamond (Chief Executive, Barclays plc) said:

We are delighted to support the Government’s efforts to transform the UK social finance market and are investing £200 million collectively to launch Big Society Capital as part of that. This is a ground breaking initiative with the potential to be the catalyst for creating a sustainable social finance model in the UK. This investment evidences our commitment to working with the team at Big Society Capital to make their vision of a sustainable social finance market a reality.

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, said:

There are few moments like this when something happens that can really change the world. We’ve all heard about a small charity or social enterprise sweeping away entrenched local social problems. But we have not seen a significant commitment to help social innovations grow and be implemented on the national stage until now. Big Society Capital will undoubtedly change this and unlock the money that charities and social enterprises need to grow when a big opportunity comes along. This government is proud to support this achievement. I want to thank Sir Ronald Cohen and Nick O’Donohoe and everyone else, including the banks, who have made this a reality so quickly.

Sir Ronald Cohen, Big Society Capital, Non-Executive Chair commented:

Today’s launch of Big Society Capital Group marks the culmination of ten years of thought and effort by many individuals and organisations. It is the first of a new kind of organisation devoted to providing finance in the interest of society. The depth and breadth of The Big Society Trust and Big Society Capital boards, combined with an anticipated £600m in initial funding will enable BSC to attract additional capital to the social sector from charitable foundations, institutional investors, companies and private individuals.

Innovations such as social impact bonds and a burgeoning array of organisations operating across the social sector suggest that we are on the cusp of a revolution. The social sector now has the prospect of attracting funding in the UK to support social entrepreneurs, much as venture capital and private equity did to support business some three decades ago.We very much welcome the equity investment by the Merlin banks and a strategic relationship with them in developing the market for social investment in Britain.

This is just one of the many efforts that government is leading to build the UK’s social investment market. We will say more about innovative products coming to fruition, such as Social Impact Bonds, in the next few weeks.

To support the early development of Big Society Capital, the Big Lottery Fund has set up an Investment Committee to make some initial investments. Its first investment is an in principle award of up to £1m to the Private Equity Foundation.

John Kingston, Chair of the Investment Committee and until recently Director of CAF Venturesome said:

The Investment Committee's call for proposals has generated a high level of interest, with 40 proposals in so far. The Committee met on Tuesday and I am very pleased to say has agreed in principle to make its first investment: up to £1m in a social investment fund run by the Private Equity Foundation to help disadvantaged young people into employment, education or training.

Applications for investment should be initially made to the Investment Committee, details of the fund and application process can be found on the Big Fund website http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/.

Notes To Editors

(1) The organisation formally referred to as the "Big Society Bank" will now be known as Big Society Capital Group, and will be constituted as a group of three entities: the Big Society Trust, which is responsible for ensuring that the group is true to its mission; Big Society Capital Limited, which is the operating company of the group; and Big Society Foundation, which will be a charitable foundation able to receive philanthropic donations. Big Society Capital will be a financial institution that aims to increase investment in society. It will do this by supporting organisations that invest in the sector, helping them:

Provide a greater range of financial services to social sector organisations;
Raise more money for onward investment into the sector; and
Become more sustainable and resilient themselves.

Big Society Capital will also be a champion for social investment with policy makers, investors, stakeholders in the sector and the public at large.

(2) The big four banks will commit to provide equity investment over 4 years to be drawn down alongside the dormant accounts monies as they are received. The banks will have rights to income proportional to their contribution to BSC's total capital and senior rights in the event of liquidation of the company. The Big Society Trust will control 80 % of the voting rights of BSC and the Merlin Banks 20%.The Banks will be nominating one representative to the Board of BSC. The Merlin Banks have also agreed to provide BSC with an interest-free loan to assist with its establishment. Completion of a transaction is subject to conditions including agreement on formal documentation, receipt of FSA authorisation and State Aid approval and approval of HM Government.

(3) The Big Society Capital group (“BSC group”) has been established to become the social investment wholesaler as defined in Section 18 of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 (the “Act”). On 9 May 2011, Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, formally endorsed the outline proposals for the development of the Big Society Bank presented by Sir Ronald Cohen and Nick O’Donohoe and announced that the Government would expect to capitalise the proposed organisation with money from dormant accounts subject to further development work on organisational design including investment guidelines and selection process, agreement on the founding legal documents of all the entities within the BCS group, and assurance that public funds will be appropriately safeguarded. Capitalisation with public funds will also be dependent on getting state aid approval from the European Commission and FSA authorisation.

(4) The BSC group comprises a holding company called The Big Society Trust (“BST”), a company limited by guarantee and its operating subsidiary Big Society Capital Limited (“BSC”), a private company limited by shares. It is intended to establish a charitable foundation which could receive donations from third parties and BSC from time to time, whose purpose would be to put charitable funds to work in direct support of BSC’s mission.

(5) The purpose of the BSC group is to support the growth of a market for social investment in the UK - investments made for social as well as financial returns; to be able to attract greater levels of capital from a more diverse range of sources to address social issues; and to be able to allocate capital more effectively to achieve greater social impact. By supporting the growth of this market, BSC aims to improve very significantly the social sector’s ability to access capital and deliver positive benefits to society.

(6) The Outline Proposal for a “Big Society Bank” submitted by Sir Ronald Cohen and Nick O’Donohoe in May 2011 can be found at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/big-society-bank-outline-proposal

(7) The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery .It also uses its expertise in grant-giving to distribute funding other than Lottery funding. BIG has been directed by government to distribute £5 million of dormant accounts funding through the Big Society Social Investment Fund.

(8) The Private Equity Foundation (PEF) is a venture philanthropy charity that makes grants and uses pro bono business skills to scale up the most effective interventions to achieve its mission. PEF’s core mission is to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) so they can reach their full potential. This is a £1 million investment in PEF to enable them to roll out a programme of payment by results schemes to support young people into employment, education and training. PEF will work through frontline charities with experience in this area and a strong track record of success, ultimately helping young people in danger of leaving school without prospects improve their lives.

On the commodification of voluntary action

2011-07-20T12:37:00.003+01:00

Lord Maurice Glasman arriving at the
CLES' Better Places Summit.
He spoke against creating "beasts and gods"
more powerful than the community

Lord Maurice Glasman, advocate of "Blue Labour", recently spoke at CLES' Better Places Summit. He outlined the argument for putting people back into economic thinking through supporting a renewed sense of place based on livelihood, family, faith, vocation and relationships.

His words also provided a clear insight into how community organising (in its London Citizens' incarnation) can powerfully inform and invigorate understanding.

In yesterday's Guardian article (recomended reading, especially if you can get beyond 'Blue Labour'), Glasman says of David Cameron:

"[David Cameron's] very good at expressing state oppression, but he has no language to express market exploitation."

Glasman talks passionately against the ease with which capitalism commodifies people and labour. That's it's job and that's why you need a framework to contain its excesses. And maybe that explains that something about "Big Society", beyond its connection with the cuts agenda, that makes so many in the third sector more than uncomfortable:

Big Society is good at addressing state oppression but it is also an extremely powerful means for commodifying volunteering and voluntary & community action.

Key links:

Guardian Article: Lord Glasman: 'I'm a radical traditionalist'
Feature on Lord Glasman in New Start Magazine later this month
North West research into Equality, Big Society and Localism to be launched 4th October 2011
The Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector (emphasis on organisations) and consultation, closing date: 21st September

One Year in the Life of the Vanguards

2011-07-19T22:54:00.001+01:00

Rory Stewart, MP for Eden

The Government have published a short official summary of Big Society activity in the three vanguard areas which were launched one year ago today in Liverpool:

Eden, Cumbria (housing, planning, broadband, renewable energy, transport)
Windsor, Kent (anti-litter, volunteering including a Care Bank Scheme, participatory budgeting, parish "menu")
Sutton, London (sustainable developement, transport, skills through Citizen's University, engaging young people)

Link: Summary

Strategic Partners' activities

2011-06-11T02:57:00.000+01:00

The Office for Civil Society's nine strategic partners have been assigned different priority areas which include two specific big society activities though they are all connected:

Track progress of the big society - identifying and agreeing indicators of success
Help the sector and communities to better understand the opportunities of the big society

OCS Strategic Partners activities -

Localism Bill in the House of Lords

2011-05-24T15:58:00.001+01:00

Baroness Hayman, Minister responsible for the Localism Bill
in the House of Lords, recently visited Manchester,
as part of VSNW's Improving Representation project

The Second Reading in the House of Lords of the Localism Bill takes place on 7th June (c.3pm).

Speakers, not necessarily in order, are:

B Doocey (Lib Dem)
B Hanham(Minister)
B Parminter (Lib Dem)
L Beecham (Lab)
L Kennedy of Southwark (Lab)
L Palmer of Childs Hill (Lib Dem)
L Shipley (Lib Dem)
L True (Con)
L Avebury (Lib Dem)
B Byford (Con)
Caithness (Con)
Cormack L (Con)
Gardiner of Kimble L (Con)
L Greaves (Lib Dem)
B Hamwee (Lib Dem)
L Jenkin of Roding (Con)
L Lucas (Con)
L McKenzie of Luton (Lab)
L Reay (Con)
L Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Con)
L Rix (Crossbench)
B Scott of Needham Market (Lib Dem)
Thornton B (Lab)
L Tope (Lib Dem)
B Wilkins (Lab)

Links:

VSNW-backed amendments to the Localism Bill have been tabled

2011-05-17T14:11:00.001+01:00

Barbara Keeley MP, Shadow Minister
for Communities and Local Government

VSNW-backed amendments to the Localism Bill have been tabled.

A short summary of the proposals are available here: Change My Localism Bill

Also available are links to VSNW's 'Localism Resources for VCS groups' which include an introductory publication for defining "My Localism" which has been sent to all North West MPs.

Localism Bill

2011-05-17T14:11:00.000+01:00

Localism Bill presentation

View more presentations from voluntarysectornorthwest

Big Society Policy Training

2011-05-17T13:51:00.000+01:00

Edgehill's Summer School: 29-30th June 2011

This year, the Centre for Local Policy Studies' Summer School will focus on 'Big Society, Community Activists and Equality'.

The training will draw on lessons learned from the NWIP-commissioned 'Equality, Big Society and Localism' research, and include talks from Anna Coote, New Economics Foundation, and Richard Caulfield, Voluntary Sector North West.

America is Watching

2011-05-16T15:34:00.001+01:00

The Davenport Institute in California has established a 'Big Society Watch' website.

It includes blogs and a link to Big Society's "foundational documents"

Converting community albatrosses into community assets

2011-05-16T15:33:00.001+01:00

Photo from the NAC foundation
http://www.stichting-nac.nl/

Interesting model for low cost use of vacant housing stock from Holland... highlighted on the Thriving Too blog

Resources to support local neighbourhood planning

2011-04-28T08:59:00.000+01:00

The Department for Communities and Local Government has awarded £3.2m for one year to support local communities get better involved in neighbourhood planning.

There been four awards through the 'Supporting Communities and Neighbourhoods in Planning' project fund ...

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment has been awarded £800,000 to provide three free of charge planning tools:

A Community Planning Diagnosis which is a 2 day workshop where community representatives meet to discuss scoping, proposals for change and analysis of potential funding, facilitated by The Foundation.
A 'Planning Reset', where local communities are engaged with developers and local authority in scenarios where planning proposals are in dispute because of the lack of previous communication with the community or lack of consideration of environmental or traffic implications.
An Enquiry by Design which is used to promote a rapid decision making process for large scale planning issues, like neighbourhood planning, with the local authority, developer, landholder, community representatives and technical consultants at the outset of the design process.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC - parish and town councils) and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have been awarded £620,000 to run a joint programme which, in order to help inform communities and parish and town councils about how to influence local plans, will provide basic information about the planning system via:

a national website
a national phone line
targeted publications
a programme of local events

Requests for Planning Help from CPRE can be made online through part of the Planning Help website.

Lead Partner for
'The Building Communities Consortium'

Locality are leading The Building Community Consortium bid that has been awarded £814,000 and includes Glass House Community Led Design, the Eden Project and communityplanning.net.

"The consortium will provide unparalleled knowledge, reach, skills and expertise in supporting disadvantaged and marginalised communities to engage with the built environment and the planning systems."

It will provide support and networking to community groups through:

online resources and other networking tools
practical workshops and seminars,
tailored advice via a telephone advice line
other packages of support.

"The consortium's knowledge, skills and expertise can be found across a network of more than 1000 community-based organisations."

It is unclear to what extent, as yet, members of Locality will benefit from these resources and to what extent they will be able to assist disadvantaged and marginalised communities to engage over and above their current activity.

It may be that local infrastructure organisations with relevant skills (eg Rural Community Councils) consider joining Locality.

Planning Aid (part of the Royal Town and Planning Institute) have been awarded £1m so that they can continue to offer support from professional advisers to people who cannot afford professional advisers.

There is a national advice line and a network of regional advice workers:

National Advice Line: 0330 123 9244 or advice@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk
North West excluding Cumbria: 0161 969 3672 or nwadmin@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk
North including Cumbria: 0191 222 5776 or ntadmin@planningaid.rtpi.org.uk

Want to be a Community organiser or host?

2011-04-26T22:29:00.001+01:00

The new national voluntary sector body Locality are accepting registrations of interest from potential community organisers and from local community groups wishing to host organisers: Locality Website

Strategic partners programme: will it give a voice to small organisations?

2011-03-25T14:04:00.002Z

Toby Blume, Urban Forum, comments on the "complete absense of any particular equalities groups" in the list of strategic partners OCS have awarded funding, concluding it will "inevitably mean that smaller voices and under-represented groups will be, well, under-represented".

Blume also questions the strength of community sector voices in government.

"The opportunities that Big Society can offer will be wholly undermined if those whon lack power and resources are not supported to take advantage".

Blume asks "what does this say about the Government's view of these groups who are being asked to step up and deliver the big society?"

Blume also discusses the emphasis on social enterprise and aspects of the selection that "raises an eyebrow" for him.

Actions speak louder than words and the story they tell is disturbing: Toby Blume

Reaction to the Budget 2011: how it affects voluntary and community groups

2011-03-25T13:36:00.001Z

Toby Blume, Urban Forum, assesses the budget 2011 and how it affects voluntary and community groups.

"Don't be fooled by the scraps on the table, the real damage is already done".

Blume discusses:

- Whether charities are offered 'big help for Big Society?'
- Whether this is a budget for enterprise?
- Planning reform

Reaction to the Budget 2011: Urban Forum

Spending cuts damage the big society agenda, MPs and Institute of Finance warn

2011-03-25T13:30:00.001Z

Roberta Blackman-Woods,
Shadow Civil Society Minister

Numerous Labour MPs, including the shadow civil society minister, warn that the cuts being made will damage the big society agenda.

"The government simply does not understand the nature of the modern-day voluntary sector..." says shadow civil society minister Roberta Blackman-Woods.

Government doesn't understand the voluntary sector: Third Sector

The Institute of Finance warns a committee of MPs that the cuts "threaten to derail the big society before it has even got off the ground".

"The voluntary sector cannot be - and should not be - called upon to do the job of the state".

Sector can't fill gaps left by the state, says Institute of Finance: Third Sector

Community Organisers briefing: Updated

2011-03-23T10:12:00.001Z

Urban Forum recently published a Community Organisers briefing, outlining the background to this idea and who will run the Community Organisers programmes.

This has now been updated to include details of the programme delivery. This outlines the "key elements" of the Locality programme, who the "kickstarters" of the programme will be and what the community organisers will be doing.

Community Organisers briefing: Updated: Urban Forum

Transition fund to increase by £7m

2011-03-22T15:53:00.003Z

The transition fund is to be increased by £7m and the Cabinet Office has also announced the 183 charities that will share £15m from the fund.

For more details:

Transition fund to increase by £7m: Third Sector

People Powered Change: supporting a bottom-up society

2011-03-21T13:59:00.002Z

David Wilcox,
Social Reporter

David Wilcox, Social Reporter, comments on the launch of People Powered Change by the Big Lottery, which will support local bottom-up community projects.

Wilcox discusses:

1. What is People Powered Change?
2. Is People Powered Change a new programme that I can apply to?
3. Why the new approach?
4. How can I get involved in People Powered Change activities?
5. If I have a good idea where can I get money?

BIG's People Powered Change may catalyse a more bottom-up society: David Wilcox

Lib Dems float voluntary sector impact assessment idea

2011-03-21T13:44:00.001Z

Following the Lib Dem's party endorsement of their voluntary sector policy paper, Lord Rennard proposes a formal voluntary sector impact assessment for future cuts.

Lib Dems float voluntary sector impact assessment idea: Civil Society

The Big Society: the state, the market, the individual/community

2011-03-18T12:16:00.000Z

Professor John Diamond, Centre for Local Policy Studies, suggests two publications which "add to the on-going conversation on the Coalition's Big Society project":

The Verdict: Polly Toynbee and David Walker
The Return of the Public: Dan Hind

They add to the conversation about the role the Big Society plays in redefining the relationship between "the state, the market and the individual/community".

Our Society: Their Society or the Big Society- The Debate Continues: Professor John Diamond

Developing the skills to grow the big society

2011-03-17T15:02:00.000Z

Toby Blume, Urban Forum, offers some thoughts on the "the sorts of skills and capacity we will need to develop within the not-for-profit sector to grow the big society".

Blume focuses on:

1. Innovation
2. Creative collaboration
3. Community Organising
4. Open data
5. Resilience and asset mapping
6. Equalities and inclusion
7. Beginning to grow our skills and capacity

Developing the skills to grow the big society: Toby Blume

Lib Dems make no mention of big society in new voluntary sector policy paper

2011-03-15T12:09:00.000Z

The new policy paper which sets out the Liberal Democrat's stance on the voluntary sector makes no mention of the big society agenda being promoted by the Coalition Government.

For more details and full article:

Lib Dems make no mention of big society in new voluntary sector policy paper: Third Sector

A debate on the prospects for smaller charities

2011-03-15T11:56:00.000Z

Professor John Diamond, Centre for Local Policy Studies, reports on the Big Society Debate held in Manchester last week, organised by the Charity Practitioners Forum.

Professor John Diamond was asked to oppose the following motion:

"There are practical opportunities that flow from the Big Society agenda that will help many small and medium size charities to maintain and even develop their work, despite the pressure on local authorities and other public bodies to reduce their funding for the third sector".

The points made are given, as is a link to the points made by Alan Lewis who supported the resolution.

Professor John Diamond stresses the importance of not underestimating "the power and depth of the Big Society analysis" and not ignoring "the power of neo-liberalism".

The Big Society- Positive Thinking or Wishful Thinking- A Debate on the Prospects for Smaller Charities: Professor John Diamond

Lessons from the Community Empowerment Programme for Big Society

2011-03-15T11:34:00.000Z

An article by Toby Blume and John Houghton for the Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal offers "some thoughts on what we can learn from [the Community Empowerment Programme and Neighbourhood Renewal] in relation to Big Society and Localism".

It argues "the programme's aims to empower communities to become equal partners in neighbourhood renewal was undermined by inconsistent central government policy and opposition from local authorities".

Lessons from the Community Empowerment Programme for Big Society: Toby Blume

Applications invited for funding to run 2012 National Citizen Service pilots

2011-03-11T15:46:00.000Z

The Government today opened the application process for organisations that want to help run the second set of National Citizen Service pilots in 2012.

The 2012 pilot scheme will offer 30,000 places.

Applications invited for new funding to run 2012 National Citizen Service pilots: Cabinet Office

The Big Society: Regionalism V Localism

2011-03-10T15:59:00.000Z

Professor John Diamond, Centre for Local Policy Studies, highlights the importance of the big society agenda to "members of the RSA [Regional Studies Association] and to the readers of Regions".

In a detailed article Professor John Diamond discusses:
1. What is meant by the Big Society?
2. What is the link to Localism?
3. Why does this matter to us- the RSA?
4. What next?

The Big Society and the Regional Studies Agenda: Why the Connections Matter: Professor John Diamond

Local Society seminar report

2011-03-09T15:46:00.000Z

Local Society, hosted by Urban Forum, Involve and LG Leadership has produced a report following the Local Society seminar held.

The report draws out the main points discussed at the seminar:
- The changing culture in public bodies and overcoming this barrier.
- Focusing on the leadership role of local authorities to bring about change and ensure democratic accountability through the role of councillors.
- Transforming public engagement through radical transparency, ongoing accountability, challenging public expectations and balancing risk and innovation.
- Re-engineering public services, transforming how they are delivered and how they are funded.

Local Society seminar report: Local Society

The Big Society: Service Provision and the Democratic Boundary

2011-03-09T10:36:00.000Z

Simon Burall, Involve, highlights not only are there public services which only the government can deliver, but the misunderstood fact that different communities have different capacities.

Thus "richer communities will take advantage [of the Big Society] while the poorer communities will see their services cut without being supported to build the capacity to take them over".

Burall also questions whether "handing services over to communities automatically makes them more accountable" and asks when will the government "step in" and "take responsibility for ensuring the minority don't lose out to the majority".

The Big Society Brain Surgeons: Involve

Why Alinsky's supporters lost out on the Community Organisers programme

2011-03-09T10:24:00.001Z

An article in Third Sector explores the differences between Locality and Citizens UK, the organisation originally believed favourite to be awarded the contract for the Government's Community Organisers programme.

While Locality echoes ideas from Brazilian writer Paulo Freire, Citizens UK "works on Alinskyan principles".

This articles offers an in-depth examination of the differences and concludes with a short comparison with America.

Analysis: Why Alinsky's supporters lost out: Third Sector

The Big Society: What it means to Conservative MP's

2011-03-07T11:53:00.000Z

Extracts from speeches by a variety of Conservative backbench MP's during a debate which followed the motion moved by Dover's Tory MP, Charlie Elphicke, which stated its support for the Big Society.

Community Organisers: Presentation

2011-03-06T13:03:00.010Z

A presentation by Locality highlights the role of Community Organisers and offers a brief account of where this idea is rooted.

The presentation continues to explain the various elements of the programme, along with a timescale:
Training
Hosting
Networking
Institute for Community Organising
Learning and Policy Group

Community organiser presentation

Community Organisers: Locality

Toby Blume assesses Pickles' recent speech

2011-03-04T13:32:00.000Z

Toby Blume, Urban Forum, assesses the recent speech by Community Sectretary Erik Pickles at NCVO's annual conference.

While much reaction has been given to Pickles' announcement that he felt it was reasonable for local authorities to not disproportionately cut funding to voluntary and community organisations, Blume believes the " really interesting part of his speech" was elsewhere:

"It is reasonable to expect that they (Councils)...give local groups a chance to make their case and suggest alternative ways of redesigning or reshaping services".

Blume explains why this is where voluntary and community groups ought to be looking for opportunities.

Breathing space and playing the long game: Toby Blume

"Big Society isn't just a Big Con, but that's how it'll be remembered"

2011-03-04T12:20:00.002Z

A new blog by recent graduates, Lost Alumni, comments on current political issues.

A recent post discusses the Big Society, commenting on the impact of charities becoming increasingly cynical towards this vision and the incompatibility between big society rhetoric and Cameron's adherence to "the same old Tory market-based policy platform".

Concluding, "so long as big society rhetoric is accompanied by neoliberal marketisation, it is destined to fail".

Big Society isn't just a Big Con, but that's how it'll be remembered: Lost Alumni

The Big Society and the Department of Health

2011-03-02T17:57:00.000Z

VONNE has responded to an informal opportunity to influence the Department of Health regarding how it should work with the Big Society agenda.

VONNE suggests ways the Department of Health can support the third sector.

The response in full: VONNE

Big Society Agenda

2011-03-02T17:46:00.000Z

Third Sector Foresight explores the implications of the Big Society agenda and how voluntary organisations can move forward and take advantage of these opportunities.

More detailed analysis is offered regarding the implications of policies on volunteering, public service delivery, policies encouraging individual giving and social enterprise, loan finances and the changing nature of community leadership.

Big Society Agenda: Third Sector Foresight

The Big Society Challenge

2011-03-02T17:38:00.000Z

The Big Society Challenge, a publication by various authors, explores the issues surrounding the Big Society.

Chapters as follow:
1. Introduction: The Big Society in Context
2. The Intellectual Roots of Big Society
3. Building the Big Society- Solid Foundations or Shifting Sands?
4. 'Small is Beautiful': Can Big Society Advocates Learn from Experience?
5. The Big Society and How it can Work
6. Big Society and the Devolution of Power
7. The Big Society and Sustainable Communities
8. Big Society and the New Austerity
9. Community and the Big Society
10. Big Society and Poor Places
11. Big Society and Rural Communities
12. Big Society- A State of Mind
13. Organisations and Big Society
14. Social Enterprise and Big Society
15. Environmental Responsibility and Big Society
16. Local Government Members and Big Society
17. Housing Associations and Big Society
18. From Small to Big- Housing Associations and the Big Society
19. Big Questions and the Voluntary Sector
20. The Big Society Bank
21. Money in a Big Society- Well Being and Wealth
22. Jericho Road

The Big Society Challenge

We must take a risk on Community Organisers

2011-02-23T13:46:00.000Z

Toby Blume, Urban Forum, discusses the Government's recent announcement that the contract to deliver the Community Organisers programme was being awarded to a consortium led by Locality, Urban Forum is a partner in the Locality consortium.

Blume discusses why he thinks the Locality led consortium was chosen and examines the risks facing the programme including the "intense scrutiny on the programme from sceptics and supporters alike" and engaging local government and local councillors with the programme.

Despite these challenges Blume looks to "embrace the potential that community organisers bring" to "support the less powerful to gain influence and power".

We must take a risk on Community Organisers: Toby Blume

3 Community Organiser pilots in NW

2011-02-22T11:19:00.002Z

From April, MMU, Kirkgate Arts and St Peter's Partnerships will be the
first to host community organisers.

The first 10 projects will operate in:

Barton Hill Settlement, Bristol
Birmingham Settlement, Birmingham
Cambridge Community Links, east London
Community Links, east London
Goodwin Development Trust, Hull
Keystone Development Trust, Norfolk
Kirkgate Arts, Cumbria
Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester
Penwith Community Development Trust, Cornwall
St Peter's Partnerships, Tameside, Greater Manchester

Full article

Locality win England-wide community organisers contract

2011-02-22T11:15:00.002Z

Locality, the charity formed by the merger of Bassac and the Development Trusts Association has been awarded a £15m contract to deliver the government's community organisers programme.

The programme, part of the Conservative Party's general election manifesto, will recruit and train 5,000 community organisers to help local people develop community projects in deprived areas in England.

Five hundred of these will be senior community organisers, who will be trained and paid £20,000 each for their first year. A further 4,500 will be part-time voluntary organisers.

£10m of the £15m would be spent on paying the bursaries and £5m would cover the other costs of running the scheme.

- Full article

David Cameron's 'big society' may seem a big joke- but don't be fooled

2011-02-21T12:34:00.000Z

Ally Fogg, The Guardian, examines how volunteering is "only the third prong to the big society".

Instead the replacement of public services is the main focus and "if taken to their logical conclusion" these policies will result in national inequality.

David Cameron's 'big society' may seem a big joke- but don't be fooled: Ally Fogg

The Big Proposals behind the Big Society

2011-02-21T11:56:00.000Z

Professor John Diamond, Centre for Local Policy Studies, examines the big proposals behind the Big Society to show how the agenda is "more than cover for cuts and some romantic vision of volunteering England".

Public services will be open to other providers, "be they private companies, charities or voluntary organisations".

The level of discussion has been "shifted" by "Cameron's ideas of a Big Society which has a social element with one which is about expanding the market for non-state providers or reducing the place of state providers".

Professor John Diamond points of various articles of interest throughout.

There is a Big Proposal behind Cameron's Big Society: Should We Care. Yes We Should: Professor John Diamond

'Why I talk BS'

2011-02-21T11:42:00.000Z

Simon Burall, Involve, explains why he is "broadly positive" about the Big Society, addressing the challenges:

1. The Big Society is vacuous.
2. The Big Society is a cover for cuts.
3. The Big Society will only benefit a few.

Why I talk BS: Simon Burall

Select committee inquiry into the Big Society

2011-02-18T10:21:00.000Z

Public Administration Select Committee, chaired by Bernad Jenkin, wishes to understand the impact of the Big Society and assess its potential impact on society and the voluntary sector.

It is hoping to hear evidence from charities about how they feel they are affected by the Big Society. The committee then hope to offer advice to the Government on how to implement Big Society policies.

Responses to the inquiry must be submitted by 18th March.

For more details and full story:
Select committee inquiry into the Big Society: Third Sector

What's keeping Young Urban Professionals from becoming Young Urban Participants?

2011-02-18T10:13:00.000Z

Ingrid Prikken, Involve, discusses the challenges charities face when trying to engage Young Urban Professionals in the Big Society.

Prikken highlights 'place' and 'time' as the main limitations and offers a different way to frame these discussions.

What's keeping Young Urban Professionals from becoming Young Urban Participants?: Ingrid Prikken

Francis Maude discusses the National Citizen Service

2011-02-18T10:02:00.000Z

On Conservative Home Blog Francis Maude discusses the National Citizen Service scheme.

Maude outlines what he hopes the NCS will achieve and how it will run, sketching a week-by-week plan.

National Citizen Service will teach our teenagers about social responsibility and help bring Britain back together: Francis Maude

Re-launch of Big Society is "nothing new"

2011-02-16T10:44:00.000Z

Toby Blume, Urban Forum, comments on Cameron's recent speech which saw the re-launch of his Big Society vision.

Despite expectations this speech contained "nothing new".

At this speech Blume asked the Prime Minister "how the £200m he told us he 'got out of the banks' was really worth anything to civil society, given that it was provided on a commercial basis". Here Blume analysis Cameron's answer, which was made up of two elements:

1. The Big Society Bank will be more understanding about the needs of social enterprises and charities seeking capital.
2. The Big Society Bank would provide cheaper money.

Big Society re-launch risks becoming just a re-hash# big societyToby Blume

Big Society Bank will start with up to £300m

2011-02-16T10:30:00.000Z

The Big Society Bank will be independent of the government and will decide its own investment strategy.

The Bank will only act as a wholesaler, so it will not not make direct investments in organisations and it will not give grants.

For more details and full story:

Big Society Bank will start with up to £300m: Third Sector

Big Society visualised: the charity map of England and Wales

2011-02-16T10:07:00.000Z

The Guardian provides links to The NCVO's Almanac of the Third Sector, the most complete set of data ever published about the state of the third sector.

Big Society visualised: the charity map of England and Wales: The Guardian

Toby Blume discussing cuts and the Big Society Bank

2011-02-14T11:25:00.000Z

Toby Blume is interviewed on BBC News, talking about the cuts and Big Society.

Blume is also interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, along with Danny Kruger, where he discusses the banks 'generous gift' of £200m to the Big Society Bank.

Hear these interviews in full here.

Cameron defends the 'big society'

2011-02-14T11:18:00.000Z

In an article in The Observer David Cameron defends his vision for the 'big society', addressing a variety of criticisms.

Cameron defends his vision against claims it is too vague, it is merely a cover for cuts, it will only work in "leafy" areas such as his constituency of West Oxfordshire, that it is not a new idea and it is doomed to fail due to voluntary bodies being starved of money.

Have no doubt, the big society is on its way: David Cameron

Francis Maude vows to unlock £78bn in charitable assets for 'big society'

2011-02-12T12:19:00.000Z

Francis Maude has also said up to 25% of public service contracts will be handed over to the private or voluntary sector.

For more details and full story:

Francis Maude vows to unlock £78bn in charitable assets for 'big society': The Guardian

Speech by Neil Cleeveley, NAVCA's Director of Policy and Communications

2011-02-12T12:13:00.000Z

Neil Cleeveley spoke at a joint NAVCA and TUC conference which looked at the impact of the Government's spending cuts and welfare and public service reform on voluntary organisations and communities.

Cleeveley describes the 'big society' as "the Coalitions counterpoint to the small state".

Cleeveley goes on to encourage "good working relationships with local authorities" and highlights the importance of protecting vulnerable people in communities.

Furthermore, he resolves to challenge cuts which are unfair, disproportionate or lack transparency.

"We must engage with the ideological argument wherever we can because voluntary effort can never replace the state".

Speech by Neil Cleeveley, NAVCA's Director of Policy and Communications

Cameron announces £200m for 'big society bank'

2011-02-10T16:02:00.000Z

Cameron announces £200m will be taken from Britain's banks and put into the big society bank, during PMQ's exchange with Ed Miliband.

Cameron announces £200m for 'big society bank': The Guardian

Big Society R.I.P?- Pause for Thought

2011-02-10T15:54:00.000Z

Professor John Diamond, Centre for Local Policy Studies, assesses the current idea that the Big Society is over.

Professor John Diamond addresses Poly Toynbee's recent article Big Society's a busted flush but who will admit it first? along with Cameron's speech on multi-culturalism.

Big Society R.I.P?- Pause for Thought: Professor John Diamond

Francis Maude denies that spending cuts are undermining the 'big society'

2011-02-09T15:24:00.000Z

Francis Maude responds to criticism from Dame Elisabeth Hoodless.

Francis Maude denies that spending cuts are undermining the 'big society': Third Sector

Nat Wei: Local Authorities and Big Society in the Age of Austerity

2011-02-09T15:13:00.000Z

In his blog Nat Wei discusses the savings local authorities are to make, creating challenges for voluntary and community groups.

Wei suggests ways in which local authorities can better manage this transition. Firstly, local authorities should "focus not just on the 10 percent of their budget relating to voluntary sector grants but also look at the 90 percent of expenditure on services they produce". Secondly, local authorities can "take a serious look at their core costs" and the "third opportunity lies in partnerships".

Local Authorities and Big Society in the Age of Austerity: Nat Wei

Polly Toynbee: Big society's a busted flush, but who will admit it first?

2011-02-09T14:51:00.000Z

Polly Toynbee comments on civil society's rebellion "at the great 'big society' fraud".

Toynbee discusses the cuts which, as Dame Elisabeth Hoodless recognised, are "destroying" volunteering and highlights the scepticism surrounding the 'big society' in action.

Big society's a busted flush, but who will admit it first? : The Guardian

Letter from Greg Clark to local authorities

2011-02-07T16:00:00.000Z

Greg Clark wrote to all local authority leaders encouraging them to support the voluntary sector and smaller firms.

Clark describes the "vital role" these groups can play in delivering front line services and expresses his desire "to understand in greater detail the ways in which local authorities are strengthening these ties" with the voluntary sector and smaller firms.

Clark also notes the consultation on the new Code of Recommended Practice for local authorities, which will help voluntary groups "better understand how services are delivered and to assess whether they might be able to put forward a credible bid to run them differently and deliver greater value for money".

Letter from Greg Clark to local authorities

Right to buy and right to challenge consultations launched

2011-02-07T15:34:00.001Z

The Communities and Local Government Department has launched consultations over proposals in the Localism Bill to set up a community right to buy and right to challenge.

The consultation will run until 3 May.

Right to buy and right to challenge consultations launched: Third Sector

Consultation paper and consultation response form: Communities and Local Government

Cuts undermine 'big society' says senior charity chief

2011-02-07T15:29:00.000Z

Elisabeth Hoodless, outgoing executive director of Community Service Volunteers, says cuts in funding are removing opportunities for people to help deliver services.

Cuts undermine 'big society' says senior charity chief: The Guardian

Big Society vision in Liverpool halted by cuts

2011-02-03T11:57:00.000Z

Phil Redmond disenchanted by 'big society' progress in Liverpool: The Guardian

Policy-makers need a better understanding of how community organisations work: Third Sector Research Centre

2011-02-03T11:52:00.000Z

Below the Radar in a Big Society?, a report by Third Sector Research Centre, assesses the role that small community organisations could play in delivering the 'big society'.

It argues that "the motivators for community action are, and have been, ill understood in policy circles". Furthermore, there is "little systematic analysis of the power relationship between the state (both locally and nationally) communities and neighbourhoods which can inform meaningful debate on devolution and localism". Without informed analysis of power relations and the role of the state, equality and fairness are jeopardised.

The report also questions whether people are willing to become involved in volunteering and policy decisions, highlighting the decline in volunteering levels over recent years.

For Third Sector article and link to full report:
Policy-makers 'don't understand community organisations'

Localism Bill: Impact Assessments

2011-02-03T11:34:00.000Z

The Government has published impact assessments for each proposal in the Localism Bill.

The impact assessments for 'Community Right to Challenge' and 'Community Right to Buy' are particularly relevant for community and voluntary organisations.

Localism Bill: Impact Assessments

The end of the beginning for the Big Society

2011-02-01T15:56:00.000Z

Adrian Brown, Institute for Government Blog, addresses the problems the Big Society agenda is facing, amid claims the Big Society is 'one big disappointment' and in light of the funding cuts charities are facing.

Brown argues against the idea that the 'entire project is doomed', claiming changes will need time to succeed and will also require the Government as a catalyst if the Big Society is to avoid failure.

The end of the beginning for the Big Society: Adrian Brown

Nat Wei: Participation and the Big Society

2011-01-30T12:17:00.000Z

In his blog Nat Wei discusses public participation and the Big Society, outlining why he thinks perspectives on participation "miss the point" and what the government, organisations and individuals can do to encourage participation. Wei stresses the importance of individuals in creating a change in participation.

Big Society and Participation: Nat Wei

Community Right to Challenge

2011-01-28T13:59:00.000Z

Urban Forum has published a document detailing the community 'right to challenge' introduced in the Localism Bill. The article outlines the background to the Community Right to Challenge, the details of this right and what this means for future service delivery.

Community Right to Challenge: Urban Forum

Spending Cuts and the Big Society: How the two relate

2011-01-27T11:01:00.000Z

Professor John Diamond, Centre for Local Policy Studies, refutes the Government's claim that their 'big society' vision is separate from the spending cuts. Instead, Professor Diamond demonstrates how the two are interlinked, with the cuts affecting the role and function of local authorities and civil society institutions.

Professor Diamond points to relevant articles of interest throughout.

New Year- Same Debates over Spending and Cutting: New Readers Start Here: Professor John Diamond, Centre for Local Policy Studies

What role for government in encouraging social action?

2011-01-27T10:44:00.000Z

The Giving Green Paper represents the Government's ambition to encourage the growth of social action "from the bottom up". With focus shifting from policy makers to behavioural economics, Tim Hughes, Involve, highlights the importance of policy makers learning from the voluntary and charity sector, not ignoring them, when working to encourage participation.

What role for government in encouraging social action?: Tim Hughes, Involve.

Philip Pullman eloquently critiques the current assault on the public sector: "This is the Big Society, you see. It must be big, to contain so many volunteers"

2011-01-25T13:33:00.000Z

Pullman spoke at a meeting in Oxford's town hall where 300 people gathered to oppose the County Council's plan to close 20 of the 43 public libraries.

Pullman's speech in full

Big Society charities face disproportionate cuts

2011-01-25T13:20:00.000Z

A survey shows charities helping the homeless, addicts, refugees and women are facing massive reductions in funding.

Message to big society charities: expect 'disproportionate cuts': The Guardian

Despite the women's voluntary sector being praised, by ministers, for its big society plans, some organisations are threatened with vast reductions and the risk of closure.

Domestic violence: women's charities face 100% funding cuts: The Guardian

Where next for rural areas?

2011-01-25T13:09:00.000Z

A report by Rural Coalition examines the challenges facing rural communities in the coming decades, in light of the Spending Review, and explores whether the 'big society' agenda is in-keeping with Rural Coalition's vision for sustainable rural communities.

Where next for rural areas?

Involving the public in the delivery of public health programmes

2011-01-25T12:59:00.000Z

The People in Public Health research team at Leeds Metropolitan University has created a "research briefing for practice for services interested in involving members of the public in the delivery of public health programmes".

The study aimed to "find out what community of voluntary workforces can, and currently do, to help services improve health and how these services can engage, support and sustain them".

The research also offers advice on:
- How to recruit, train and support people willing to take on public health roles.
- Service models for involving members of the public in delivering health improvement.
- How to develop appropriate systems to engage with members of the public.

Harnessing community power in public health

Toby Blume discusses Community Organisers

2011-01-23T11:15:00.000Z

Toby Blume, Urban Forum, discusses Community Organisers in a short clip from a recent Big Society seminar.

Community Organisers are described as a model for disrupting power, and Blume notes his support if the aim is to create equality. However, for equality to be achieved Blume highlights the need for Community Organisers to be advocates for the poor, and not vested interests, and he questions how areas which descend into chaos are to be supported.

Community Organisers- the big society's creative disruptors: Toby Blume

Nick Hurd: We don't want charities to become dependent upon the state

2011-01-21T12:31:00.000Z

On Conservative Home Comment Nick Hurd explains why he doesn't want charities to become dependent upon the state, outlining some of the policies which reflect this agenda.

Nick Hurd: We don't want charities to become dependent upon the state: Conservative Home Comment

MP accuses Cabinet Office of 'dithering' over Big Society Bank

2011-01-20T16:07:00.001Z

MP accuses Cabinet Office of 'dithering' over Big Society Bank: Third Sector

Localism agenda

2011-01-20T16:06:00.000Z

A Third Sector Foresight blog explores the localism agenda, assessing the implications for civil society organisations and how these organisations can move forward in this climate.

The blog focuses on three areas:

1. Devolution to greater local government.
2. Locally delivered public services.
3. More empowered local communities.

Localism

The Big Society: Next Practice and Public Service Futures

2011-01-18T11:17:00.000Z

A pamphlet, edited by Robin Tuddenham, exploring key dimensions of the Big Society vision "positively and with an open mind, and also to test and challenge it as a means to optimise its value as a stimulus to better lives and better places".

It embraces 'big society' as reflective of a new set of values but also recognises that "'big society' clearly draws upon themes and threads already present in the ideas it seeks to replace". Nonetheless, the new austerity context "serves to give it more than merely a new twist".

1. The Role of Councilors: By Margaret Eaton
2. Next Practice and New Public Services: By Victor Adebowale
3. Public Health: A New Way Forward: By Graham Burgess
4. Financial Consolidation: By Michael Coughlin
5. Take Part, Take Pride: By Sean Brennan
6. Delivering the 'Big Society': By Gavin Jones
7. School Improvement: By Leora Cruddas
8. What Does it Mean for Social Care: By Andrew Whittaker
9. Thoughts from the Voluntary Sector: By Soo Nevison
10. Catalysts for Change: By Toby Blume
11. Building Resilience in the Community: By Ewan King
12. The Role of Faith Communities: By Fiyaz Mughal
13. The Rehabilitation of Revolution: By Fergus McNeill
14. What is 'Big Society': By Richard Kemp

The Big Society: Next Practice and Public Service Futures: The SOLACE Foundation Imprint

Cabinet Office 'should release documents on citizen service funding for Challenge Network'

2011-01-14T13:40:00.000Z

Shadow minister Roberta Blackman-Woods says the award raises ethical questions because the government's big society adviser Lord Wei helped found the network.

Cabinet Office 'should release documents on citizen service funding for Challenge Network': Third Sector

Charities will soon be able to respond to the 'right to challenge'

2011-01-14T12:36:00.000Z

The Communities and Local Government Department will open a consultation on the Localism Bill and ask charities to respond to the proposed 'right to challenge'.

Consultation on Localism Bill 'within weeks': Third Sector

NHS reform and voluntary organisations

2011-01-12T16:18:00.000Z

Using voluntary organisations to help reform the NHS would be a win-win situation, argues Lynne Berry.

Harnessing volunteer power for the health of the 'Big Society': The Guardian

Response to consultation on Supporting a Stronger Civil Society

2011-01-12T16:11:00.000Z

Urban Forum has conducted an online survey for Urban Forum members asking how the government could make improvements to support the delivery of the Big Society agenda. The response presented also draws on evidence from 20 Big Society events Urban Forum have held across England.

Response is given to the following questions:
1. How can online services for front line groups be improved?
2. What can Government do to forge more effective links and transfer skills between small civil society organisations and businesses or larger charities?
3. How could brokerage of pro bono support be improved?
4. What support might your organisation need to become more resilient?
5. What do you think should be the priorities for a bursary fund?
6. How could any bursary fund be delivered simply and fairly?
7.How could consolidation grants help ensure the sustainability and efficiency of infrastructure services?
8. Are there ways that expert intervention can support areas which are lacking social capital to improve local relationships and develop a stronger civil society?

Supporting a Stronger Civil Society consultation response

A theoretical argument for voluntary associations

2011-01-11T17:22:00.000Z

An in-depth article by Paul Hirst explores the details of Associative Democracy, a normative political theory which advocates the role of voluntary associations.

Hirst explains the theoretical argument and uses the UK as an example to support his argument for associative governance.

Renewing democracy through associations

Big Society losing sight of its mission, think-tank warns

2011-01-09T20:34:00.000Z

A report by think-tank Paces Empowerment suggests a growing gap between the prime minister's original aims for Big Society and the way it is being applied in practice.

The report discusses the tension between strengthening communities in themselves and encouraging them to take over public services.

It addresses the critique "that community empowerment is being increasingly marginalised, needs to be made distinct as the leading policy stream, and needs to be linked with a reformed version of community development if it is to become a reality".

The Big Society and public services: complementarity or erosion?

NAVCA's response to the Modernising Commissioning green paper

2011-01-09T20:16:00.000Z

NAVCA has published a response to the Modernising Commissioning green paper, the report discusses:

1. In which public service areas could Government create opportunities for civil society organisations to deliver?
2. How could Government make existing public service markets more accessible to civil society organisations?
3. How could commissioners use assessments of full social, environmental and economic value to inform their commissioning decisions?
4. How could civil society organisations support greater citizen and community involvement in all stages of commissioning?

The Big Society and the big cuts

2010-12-31T11:24:00.000Z

A collection of articles from The Guardian warn of the implications of the spending cuts and highlight concerns from figures within the voluntary sector.

A dire 'big society' warning David Cameron would do well to heed: Community Links founder, David Robinson, and the chairman of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Martyn Lewis, voice their concerns.

Charity chief says cuts could destroy David Cameron's 'big society': Further warning from Robinson along with details of Ed Milliband's criticism of the coalition's plans. This article also details examples and statistics regarding spending cuts and the voluntary sector.

Is the 'big society' just a big joke?: This article highlights Volunteer Centre Hackney as a centre endangered by the cuts, and what this means for the Hackney community.

Green paper on giving announced

2010-12-31T10:53:00.000Z

In light of the government's ambition to build a "stronger society- a Big Society" a green paper on giving has been published by the Cabinet Office.

Two new volunteering initiatives has been unveiled and £80million will be allocated to the Community First programme. Other funding plans are also documented.

Five elements are highlighted as important for building social action through changing social norms: Opportunities; Information; Visibility; Exchange; Support.

For detailed information and green paper: Funds for volunteering announced in green paper on giving: Third Sector

Big Society: Third Sector Research Centre policy review

2010-12-21T12:11:00.000Z

Third Centre Research Director, Pete Alcock, discusses the Big Society agenda and it's implications for the area formerly known as the "Third Sector".

Alcock discusses:
1. The development of third sector policy under New Labour and the legacy the Coalition inherited.
2. Coalition policy building. Alcock highlights and details the development of specific policy initiatives, also drawing on statements and speeches made by ministers and influential figures.
3. The various departments, websites, blogs, think-tanks and organisations that have promoted the Big Society agenda.
4. Budget cuts and the restructuring of public services.
5. The impact of a new discourse: Big Society or civil society not "third sector". Alcock notes the danger of such discourse leading to the "heralding of more divisive third sector politics", becoming a political slogan rather than an analytical concept and confusing "social action" with "social relations". Alcock also highlights the danger of adopting a list-based approach to "charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations".

Building the Big Society: a new policy environment for the third sector in England

Localism, Council Cuts and the Big Society: So how does that work?

2010-12-17T15:47:00.000Z

Professor John Diamond, from the Centre for Local Policy Studies, examines the link between localism, cuts and the Big Society, highlighting the danger of 'localism' reducing the power of civil society organisations.

Localism, Council Cuts and the Big Society: So how does that work?

The commissioning reform green paper contains something that could alarm the sector

2010-12-16T11:27:00.000Z

In a Third Sector blog Kaye Wiggins highlights a detail of the commissioning green paper which may cause not-for-profit service delivery groups to be squeezed out of the market.

The commissioning reform green paper contains something that could alarm the sector: Third Sector blog.

ippr responds to the Localism Bill

2010-12-14T12:02:00.000Z

In response to the Localism Bill ippr "welcomes the decentralisation of key powers to councils and communities" but recognises a "cosmetic commitment to localism" due to the lack of new funding streams.

ippr also highlights five foundations against which the Local Government Bill can be assessed:
1. Localism must be effective and efficient.
2. Localism must be properly funded.
3. Social justice must be at the heart of a drive for localism.
4. Devolution of power and responsibility to the local level must be accompanied by a step-change in the transparency and accountability of local decision- making across all service areas.
5. Localism should be framed within a constitutional settlement between local and central government.

For further information regarding these five foundations and comments from Ed Cox, Director of ippr north: Without local financial powers, Pickles' Bill is 'lipstick localism'.

The Localism Bill: "laying the foundations for the Big Society"

2010-12-14T11:14:00.000Z

An outline of the The Localism Bill and comments from Eric Pickles, Greg Clark, Grant Shapps and Andrew Stunell: Localism Bill starts a new era of people power: communities.gov.uk

Localism Bill allows community groups to challenge councils over public service delivery: Third Sector

Inequality and the Big Society

2010-12-12T15:00:00.000Z

The Office of Public Management has published a seminar report, Inequality and the Big Society, exploring the impact that the Big Society agenda is likely to have on inequality.

The report discusses:
1. Community Organisers.
2. Voluntary and community organisations.
3. Local Authorities.
4. A new welfare settlement.

NAVCA Chief Executive's speech to the Local Government/Voluntary Sector Regional Seminar

2010-12-11T13:59:00.000Z

Kevin Curley discusses local government and the voluntary sector working better together to achieve the ambition behind the Big Society.

Curley discusses:
1. Encouraging voluntary and community action.
2. Reaching communities of interest.
3. Shaping and delivering local services.
4. Local Enterprise Partnerships.
5. Working better together with local government.
6. Spending cuts.
7. Local support and development organisations.

Modernising Commissioning Green Paper published

2010-12-11T13:13:00.000Z

The Office for Civil Society has published the Modernising Commissioning Green Paper. Nick Hurd commented "this is part of a Big Society approach that will form the core of the Public Service Reform White Paper next year".

The Green Paper outlines and seeks views on four key questions:
1. In which public service areas could government create new opportunities for civil society organisations to deliver?
2. How could government make existing public service markets more accessible to civil society organisations?
3. How could commissioners use assessments of full social, environmental and economic value to inform their commissioning decisions?
4. How could civil society organisations support greater citizen and community involvement in all stages of commissioning?

The consultation will end on January 5th and the results will feed into a Public Service Reform White Paper.

Representatives of community sector organisations meet to discuss opposition to big society

2010-12-09T16:25:00.000Z

Representatives, at an event organised by Community Sector Coalition, discussed their opposition to big society and their concerns it was a front for cuts and undermined community organisations.

Community groups meet to discuss opposition to big society: Third Sector

Acevo set up panel to scrutinise the government's big society agenda

2010-12-08T10:36:00.000Z

The panel, Commission on Big Society, will scrutinise the government's big society agenda and advise charities on their role.

For the full story, including a list of panel members: Great and the good line up to keep tabs on big society: Third Sector