Maurice Mcleod's blog

The history of Britain's civil society sector is one of constant change.

The voluntary sector has been described as the glue that holds society together so it is no wonder that each change in government ushers in massive changes for the sector.

The dark clouds that have hovered over Britain's voluntary sector are threatening to burst this month, as we find out where the Spending Review axe will fall.

So Labour has a new leader.

How Ed Milliband shapes up as Leader of the Opposition remains to be seen but already some of the battle lines are being drawn.

No sooner had the result of Labour’s leadership election been declared than the Conservative part of the government was calling him Red Ed and pointing out that since the union vote had been pivotal in swinging it for Milliband the Younger he was therefore ‘their man’.

As the sounds of the World Cup vuvuzelas drift into memory, it’s still clear that few things in life bring as much pleasure as music. In this summer issue we explore ways that lives can be enhanced by this powerful tool.

Southwark Registry office is right on my doorstep and we often watch the weddings and civil ceremonies from our balcony.

On Saturday there was a gay civil ceremony.

Both grooms were young, handsome and black - one West Indian, one African.

It got me thinking about the awful ruling in Malawi last week when a gay couple was jailed for 14 years’ hard labour for being gay and trying to get married.

So it's the last day of the closest run and least predictable general election for years.
The various candidates are out pressing the flesh and sounding resolute in the hope of swaying those last floating voters.
With the polls suggesting that a hung parliament is a strong possibility it's no wonder the talk has turned to tactical voting and coalitions.

The French Government has introduced plans to ban women from wearing Muslim veils in public buildings and parks.

The new laws could be in place by the summer and are causing a stir in Muslim communities world wide even though many Muslim women don’t wear veils.

Although what seemed like the longest, coldest winter is finally over, the forecast for sector funding is far from sunny.

David Cameron put a little more meat on his campaign pledge to 'fix broken Britain' yesterday when he spelt out his vision for how a governement lead by him would build a 'Big Society'.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's historic Walk to Freedom.

I remember watching with tears in my eyes as the former ANC leader walked out of prison after 27 years and into the history books.