The Big Society

Wilson Chowdhry and Natasha Plummer form the MPA

I was invited to attend a "Community Safety and the Big Society Interactive Workshop" on the 30th November 2010.   The long title in tanden with the new fangled concept stimulated my interest and intrigue.... 

As a consequence, I responded to the request and booked my place at the venue Metropolitan Police Authority building, opposite Scotland Yard.

During that day we were led through a new philosphy promoted by the existing coalition government.
The aim of the concept is best described by them:

"Our Conservative - Liberal Democrat Government has come together with a driving ambition: to put more power and opportunity into people’s hands"

Moreover the ethos has 5 main objectives:

1.Give communities more powers
2.Encourage people to take an active role in their communities
3.Transfer power from central to local government
4.Support co-ops, mutuals, charities and social enterprises
5.Publish government data.

During the workshop the attendees were split into groups and were taken through excersies and case studies, reflecting on the key principles and aims of the scheme and how they would manifest in a tangible, workable forms.  Participation (in line with objective 2) was encouraged and each case study was supported by a holistic feedback and brain storm session. 

The set up was good, the program for the day was well timed and stimulating.  Overall the day was rather pleasant for each participant.  

Some of the topics discussed were:

• Potential cultural changes to the Public sector that could enhance or support Big Society - ideas included improved feedback and less haughtiness from the public sector.
• How to engage with business - ideas included incentivising participation and recognition.
• Encouraging Diversity - ideas included exhibitions targetting specifuc ethnic groups.
• How could the government support the third sector - ideas included, better funding, recognition, network facilitation, creating community hubs (locations where front line services could be accessed in close proximity).  Staying with schemes for longer was another suggestion.

The debate was obviously much wider then the few matters highlighted above.  What came out of the event was a firm belief that the Big Society already existed.  However, most agreed that think tanks like the one provided, allowed for better information exchange and for an opportunity to refine best practice.  Moreover the philosophy if promulgated well, would promote a more joined up approach in communities.

As always, I like many others was concerned about how the results of the event would be used and whether any feedback mechanism would be established.  I was informed that all attendees would be provided with a summary of the findings and I hope to publish that in my blog when received.

In the meanwhile the Big Society paradigm has definitely gained my favour - lets us see where it takes us.

Learn more about Big Society here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Society

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10680062

http://thebigsociety.co.uk/

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/407789/building-big-society.pdf