Professor Keith Popple FACE Conference 29 th June 2011 The ‘Big Society’: the implications for community development

‘ The Big Society’ ‘ My great passion is building the Big Society. It’s about people setting up great new schools. Charities working to rehabilitate offenders. It’s about the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power from the elites in Whitehall to the man and woman on the street...this is such a powerful idea for blindingly obvious reasons...if it unleashes community engagement – we should do it.’ Prime Minister David Cameron, 19 th July 2010

Some of the critics (1) Leader of the Labour Party in Liverpool Director of Community Service Volunteers

Some of the critics (2) Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury Staci Beevor, youth worker Witney

The ‘Big Society’ (1) The ‘Big Society’ Bank ‘Big Society czar’ was Lord Wei who has since resigned At cabinet level Francis Maud MP is responsible

The ‘Big Society’ (2) Locality – new nationwide network of community led organisations 5,000 community organisers (500 full-time 4,500 part-time and voluntary organisers). Training to take place from April 2011-March 2015

Main themes More freedom to exercise judgement New approaches to accountability Greater efficiency and lower cost

Is it new? Derives from Cameron’s reactivation of moral responsibility, mutuality and obligation. Attempt to address ‘Broken society’ Both Blair (with the ‘Third Way’) and Cameron have stressed opportunity (now increasingly associated with enterprise), inclusion and ‘choice’ Cameron has been influenced by Philip Blond when developing his idea of the ‘Big Society’

What has happened recently (1)? Mervyn King (Governor of the Bank of England) states the recession is due to the banks and the financial sector. ‘Why do banks in general want to pay bonuses?’ Answer: ‘they know if they get into difficulties the state will bail them out’

What has happened recently (2) Financial restraint in the public sector, cuts in benefit levels, and reduction in support for LA’s Increase in tax levels e.g. 20% VAT Increased unemployment – now at 7.7% (23.3% year olds). Annual inflation in May– 4.5% Economic growth at 1.7%

Will the ‘Big Society’ work? Does it attempt to tackle inequalities and social divisions? Will strategies of inclusion and localism become subordinate to the management of highly differentiated and socially divided populations What will be the role of community development and the welfare state?

What does community development do? Help people see they have common concerns Help people work together on those concerns Support and develop networking Promote values Empower Advise and inform

Community development outcomes Reduction in isolation and alienation Increase in social capital, participation and collaboration Increase in confidence More effective voice for a community Improvement in the conditions in the locality Improvement in delivery of public services Raised awareness of social, economic and political systems and power

Opportunities for community development Fresh look at everything Clarify vagueness Change can be energising People want to make changes Possible new funding streams

Challenges for community development Reduction in funding and resources Groups and organisations large and small will disappear Getting the right volunteers and providing appropriate training and support Cynicism due to de-motivation Being seen as agents of the state

Do we need to think differently? The Impact of Inequality; How to make Sick Societies Healthier (New Press,2005) Richard Wilkinson The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone (Penguin,2010) Richard Wilkinson and Katie Pickett

Thinking differently? Robert Peston’s book Who Runs Britain (published by Hodder 2008) provides a valuable analysis of the present economic problems of this country. Peston argues that the super rich who benefited under New Labour and now the Conservative/LibDems Coalition have undermined the fabric of the democratic state.

Finally... We need to be brave. Think differently and creatively Develop new ways of working Support localism but be aware of and critique the national and international social, economic and political forces that are creating the circumstances we work and live in.