Rachel Quinn Chief Executive

The Vision

‘To give citizens, communities and local government the power and information they need to come together, solve the problems they face and build the Britain they want.’

The Focus• Making it easier to run a charity, social

enterprise or voluntary organisation

• Getting more resources into the sector: strengthening its independence and resilience

• Making it easier for sector organisations to work with the state

– Nick Hurd (Minister for Civil Society)

1. Giving communities more power

• Planning system reform – build in local neighbourhood influence

• Community running of local services and facilities

• Community Right to Buy• Community Right to Bid

• Develop neighbourhood groups• Community First Fund – areas of deprivation

• Train new generation of Community Organisers (5000)

2. Encourage people to take an active role in their communities

• Encourage volunteering

• National ‘Big Society Day’

• Encourage charitable giving

• National citizens service (for 16 year olds)

3. Transfer power from central to local government

• Greater financial autonomy for local authorities

• General power of competence – acting in the best interests of their communities

• Abolish regional strategies• Removal of ring-fencing from many local

authority funds

4. Support co-ops, mutuals, charities and social enterprises

• Support creation, expansion and role in public service delivery

• Public sector worker right to form co-ops and take over the running of services

• Big Society Bank – created from dormant bank accounts.

5. Publish government data

• ‘Right to data’ – government-held data to be made publicly available

• Monthly local crime data to be published by police

Opportunities

• Greater citizen involvement and community action

• More citizen-focussed public services

• Access to information and data

• More flexible local budgets to meet identified needs

Threats

• Expectation• Recession and spending cuts• Rolling back the state may mean

losing the safety net• Postcode lottery potential• Support for implementation needed• Inequality in take up and benefit

Questions• Service delivery – how can local involvement in public

service delivery improve outcomes?• Support – what practical support will be needed for local

/ community groups?• Volunteers - What are the challenges and opportunities

for volunteering in Big Society?• Local public sector – when have the community and

public sector worked well together and how can this be improved?

• Funding and resources – will Big Society improve or reduce sustainability of groups and how?

• Equality – can everyone participate?• Timescales – any to consider?

One EM Activities

• Big Society series of papers• Volunteering; Health & Social Care; BME; Rural;

Environment; Advice services; CYP&F; etc

• Regular MP updates• Event with Local Authorities –

October 2010

Any questions?

Thank you

rachelquinn@one-em.org.uk

www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk

0115 934 8471