The 'Big Society'
The ‘Big Society’ is the name for the Government’s programme for social renewal, including the goal to devolve power and responsibility to the most local level possible. The Government hopes that the vacuum left by substantial reductions in public spending can be filled by individual and community action and an increased role for charities, enterprises and business.
Many organisations, including Sustainability South West, welcome some principles at the heart of the Big Society – for instance the strengthening of local connections and ‘resilience’ and the focus on unlocking local knowledge, skills and energy.
But there are also major concerns about how the Big Society will be realized – particularly given the current economic climate and the rapid downscaling of state support and services for many vulnerable citizens. Opportunities to participate in and benefit from Big Society initiatives are likely to be unequally distributed and the lines of responsibility may be hard to establish. With a greater role for private providers, strong criteria will be needed to ensure profit is not prioritized over quality of care.
SSW is concerned that the Big Society programme does not include any clear goals for achieving lasting, joined-up social, economic and environmental well-being – ie sustainability – and, as a result, risks economic, social and environmental goals pulling in opposite directions.
Last updated May 2011
© 2012 Sustainability South West - UK registered charity, no. 1106125 - info@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.