Debating the Big Society

There appears to be a lot of interest in the Government's proposals for the Big Society - as well as a lot of questions about what it is and what it will mean in practice. There has also been considerable scepticism, not least from voluntary and community organisations who should be the bedrock of the Big Society but are struggling for survival in the face of cuts in public expenditure. 

Yet there is much in the idea that should resonate with our sector, it goes to the heart of what we do - not just providing services or activities, although that is important, but also by bringing people together to make a positive difference to their lives and their communities; to support or make common cause with others; have a say in decisions that affect their lives; or simply for fun and friendship. NCVO has long argued that if we are to meet the challenges facing us as a society - and build not simply the Big Society, but the Good Society - an active and vibrant civil society must be part of the solution.

We know that some of the most innovative solutions to these challenges are coming from voluntary and community organisations - finding new ways of making their communities more sustainable; reaching out to, and engaging disaffected young people; or providing financial services to the poorest communities. Going beyond, complementing and sometimes challenging the the more conventional solutions offered by other sectors. Therefore the question for debate is what the Government's idea of the Big Society, and the policy proposals that underpin it, will mean for civil society: will it help or hinder our organisations? And what will it mean for the Good Society?

On October 14th 2010, NCVO Members' Assembly will be meeting in Birmingham to discuss this question and delegates to the Assembly want to know what others think about this agenda, whether it is making a difference on the ground - and whether we should be trying to reclaim this ground.

By joining in the discussion on our website you can inform that debate.

NCVO taking the debate to party conferences:

One of the main policy proposals for the Big Society is to give local communities the right to but community assets. NCVO is debating this issue at all three party conferences at a fringe event we are organising with the Local Government Information Unit and Community Matters.

Although community ownership of local assets is not new (NCVO first campaigned on this issue in the 1920s), there has been a resurgence of interest in this issue over the last decade from all the main political parties. For communities and communitiy organisations, such assets can bring real social and economic benefits: a place where people can come together to socialise and take part in community activities and somewhere that can be used to support local enterprise and generate income that can be reinvested back into the community. But taking on responsibility for a building or land is not without risk - a capital asset without a steady revenue stream can quickly become a liability, particularly if it is in poor repair.

Following a successful event at the Lib Dems this week, we will be taking the debate to the Labour Conference, where MPs Stella Creasey and Toby Perkins will be joining Andy Sawford (LGiU), Rosie Anderson (Community Matters) and me to explore the future of community ownership and how we can best equip communities to benefit from asset transfer. If you are at the conference on Monday (or at the Conservatives the following week), we would be delighted if you joined us at this event - details below.

NCVO Fringe event: The future of Community Ownership: From Empty Spaces to Community Places will be at

Labour Party Conference on Monday 27th September 17.30 - 18.45 at the Mechanics Institute (John Tocher room) and at

Conservative Party conference on Monday 4th October, 17.00 - 18.15 at Birmingham City Council Banqueting suite