Big Society RSS feed for the Big Society tag
found 5 stories.
News
Donna Bowater B'ham Post 15 Feb 11
The Birmingham group praised by David Cameron for inspiring his Big Society vision is facing a 30 per cent funding drop.
The Prime Minister said the drive to turn around Balsall Heath, which was once a crime and prostitution hotspot, was behind his Big Society initiative.
But St Paul’s Community Development Trust, which was set up in the 70s to improve education in the area, will see its budget from Birmingham City Council cut by almost a third this year…
Comment
Graham Cornfield i-tms 6 Jan 11
At the end of 2010 people kept asking “Where has this year gone?” and I’m afraid I don’t have the answer. What I do know is that 12 months ago I was Operations Director on half salary working for a small software house that was way over exposed, financially. Misery was the norm and I was a true cynic who saw little positive in the world and no way out.
Fortunately, I decided that I’d had enough and handed in my resignation thinking “sod the consequences, I’ll get me a new job”. And here I am running my own business having met (and collaborated with many) fantastic people through “Traditional” and Social Networking. My faith in the human race is restored and I think that 2011 is the beginning of a golden age for small businesses…
Comment
Graham Cornfield 12 Dec 10
I am not a very political animal – fact. I do, however, have quite strong views on those that are; particularly when they take up ’causes’ that suit their own political ends. Earlier in the year, the government hijacked our community spirit and re-branded it as the ‘Big Society’.
Yesterday, I had the genuine privilege of attending a Christmas Fayre at The Collingwood Centre in Pheasey, where my wife Jean and I joined Cheryl and Rachael on the Walsall Hospice stall, helping to raise funds for the hospice. Present in the hall were about 25 stalls, selling everything from bric-a-brac to hand-made gifts and cards via nature conservation. Here, we had people giving of their time for local charity (including the centre itself), small “craft” businesses selling beautiful hand-made gifts to make Christmas really special and folks providing refreshments to keep everyone going for the day. Then, of course, there were the visitors, local people, many of whom would be described as “Working Class” with very little in the way of disposable income, and yet they gave as freely as you could ever wish for.
This event will have been mirrored in community centres and church halls all over the country, raising cash for all kinds of causes as it has for decades (centuries?) because that is what communities do. And they do it without being told/asked/coerced by the government. How odd.
Also present at today’s fayre was Walsall’s Mayor, and a couple of councillors…
Comment
The Plastic Hippo 7 Oct 10
Willenhall Leisure Centre, once described by council leader Mike Bird as “an open sore”, could be resurrected under the auspices of the Amateur Swimming Association. In Cameron’s “Big Society”, the key word here is amateur – that is, not paid.
In late August, after Walsall Council closed Willenhall Leisure Centre in the face of massive public opposition, Councillor Bird said this regarding the sale of the building:
“One of the problems is that everyone wants us to give it to them for nothing. Although we’ve had a lot of interest, obviously no-one has come along and said ‘here’s a cheque’. But while we are keen to sell it as soon as possible, it remains a council asset and we will not just let it go for peanuts. It could take two years to sell it.”
Fast forward just six weeks. On the day of Cameron’s rallying cry for national unity and a war time big society spirit, our council leader said this…
Business comment
Real Business 16 Sep 10
Roll up! Roll up! David Cameron has launched the project to define his career and he needs parents, volunteers, social activists and, above all, entrepreneurs to rally the cause.
Excited about the Big Society? The archbishop of Canterbury is, giving it “two and half cheers” – withholding the final demi-unit until he is reassured the concept isn’t some ruse to slash welfare payments. Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee is certainly animated, describing the Big Society as “a bit fat lie… an airy thought, a smile on the face of the shrinking state”. Brian Reade in the Mirror labels it “a vacuous waste of space”. Nick Clegg said it’s “a PR-stunt disguising fake change. It’s hollow. There’s nothing in it.” Though, to be fair, that was before the election. He’s all for it now, obviously.
And you? Are you swinging from the chandeliers at the thought of getting involved? You ought to be…