1. The Big Society

2. Questions
• What is govt. policy on Big Society
• Are they still committed to it ?
• How does volunteerism fit into the BS?
• What are some of the key issues ?
• How is it impacting on Portsmouth ?

3. The Big Society Idea
• What is it?
• What are the key words you think of ?
• Empowering local communities and
individuals
• Social responsibility
• Using social capital
• philanthropy

4. Evidence of government
commitment
• Creation of Office of Civil Society in Cabinet
Office headed by Minister Nick Hurd
• Strategy designed to encourage social action,
build social capital, help civil society play bigger
role in shaping society & public services
• HOW? by transferring power to communities,
opening up public services, encouraging social
action and cutting red tape – removing central
regulation

5. How have the done that???
Encouraging social action?
• Encouraging philanthropy ( GP on Giving )
• CG Money to assist communities and VOs to bid to take
over public services
• Support creation of mutuals and front line workers with
mentors- John Lewis
• National Citizen Service- young people and community
projects ( 2014 /90,000)
• Community Organizers
• Community First Programmes to help community groups
to implement plans (new October 2011)
• Social Action Fund
• Social Enterprise Investment Fund
• Adventure Capital Fund

6. Cameron challenges the critics
• Too vague – there is no blue print because it is
bottom up, evolving, about cultural change
• It is a cover up for cuts- the idea predates the
cuts and make some decisions more difficult but
it is a long term strategy
• It is a middle class idea – evidence it works in all
types of communities
• People are responding- free schools, public
mutuals forming, charities etc bidding to provide
public services

7. The Localism Act
• General competency to local authorities
• Community right to challenge
• Community right to bid
• Community right to veto excessive council
tax rises
• HOWEVER the act has nor been
implemented yet and we may find these
powers are surrounded by regulations !!!!

8. VOLUNTEERING
• What is new? – BIG Society already exists
• England always had a strong and diverse
charitable sector – rich tradition of volunteering
• However tend to be mainly older generation,
retired people who do we want to get involved?
• Younger people, people with skills and
knowledge, businesses.

9. What do we want volunteers to do?
• Staff our libraries/
• Keep our public gardens tidy?
• Neighbourhood watch?
• Good neighbour schemes>
• Become school governors?
• Bid to provide public services
• Create social enterprises
• Fund raising?
• ???????

10. Why do people volunteer ?
• Altruism?
• Experience
• Looks good on the CV
• Social expectation
• Religious principle
• Networking
• ?????

11. What about Portsmouth ?
• INPUT FROM YOU!!

12. Issues
• Unemployment especially youth unemployment-
whose responsibility?
• Public safety- people afraid to go out at night?
• Skills profile in Portsmouth? Which jobs can be
handed over to VOL Orgs
• What help do we give to young entrepreneurs ?
• How can we create a culture of social
responsibility