Big Society: opportunities and challenges for the voluntary & community sector Robert Beard

1. Big Society: opportunities and challenges for the voluntary & community sector Robert Beard Improving Local Partnerships Policy Adviser + NAVCA, The Tower, 2 Furnival Square, SHEFFIELD S1 4QL ( +(0)114 289 3984 : robert.beard@navca.org.uk : www.navca.org.uk/infobank

4. DECENTRALISATION

5. DECENTRALISATION Decentralisation!

6. DECENTRALISATION Decentralisation! Decent what??

7. The national context • deficit reduction • protecting frontline services and communities • small state • decentralisation • Big Society • Active citizens • Community groups

8. X P

9. Deficit reduction • CLG cuts: • Community Cohesion • LAA Performance Reward Grant • Prevent(ing Violent Extremism) • Working Neighbourhoods Fund… • ‘de-ringfencing’ for local flexibility • overall CLG cuts ≤ 2%

10. ?

11. open dialogue with funders • VCS not an easy target • must be able to plan ahead and deliver effectively Deficit reduction – VCS response

12. Cuts case study: Thurrock • TCVS report • Council consultation • £1 council funding triggers £9 VCS funding • increased demand for services • £4 million cut to Council • no cut to “vital” VCS funding

13. give councils general power of competence • abolish Standards Board • give communities powers to save local facilities • give communities right to bid to take over state-run services • allow councils to return to committee system Small state – Decentralisation & Localism Bill

14. Small state – decentralisation  competition? Directly elected police commissioners Health boards to replace health trusts Extending academies programme Local people to take over public services cf. Tony Travers, LSE

15. Small state – Local Enterprise Partnerships • RDAs axed by March 2012 • proposals for LEPs • “natural economic areas” • economic white paper “later in the summer”

16. Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire Voluntary Action North Lincolnshire Small state – LEPs and the VCS • VCS contribution to local economy: • Lincolnshire: £410 million • Nottingham: £227 million

17. Small state – LEPs and the VCS • VCS initially ‘overlooked’ • NAVCA campaign  Greg Clark: ‘VCS is welcome’ • role of local VCS reps

18. Big Society – VCS response • A “fig-leaf” for cuts

19. Big Society – VCS response • A “fig-leaf” for cuts

20. Big Society – VCS response • Reinventing the wheel

21. Big Society – Communities First fund • targeted towards the most disadvantaged areas • start up funds for neighbourhood groups • charities and social enterprises can offer support • existing or ‘reinvented’ groups?

22. to capitalise organisations for service delivery • existing or ‘reinvented’ groups? • Big Society – Big Society Bank Because it’s there!

23. Big Society – National Citizen Service • for young people to develop skills for engagement and become active, responsible citizens • “compulsory volunteering”?

24. Big Society – Community Organisers • Govt will provide training • COs to find their own salaries • unaffordable for communities who most need them? • leave disadvantaged communities to sort out issues? • increased demand on services God helps those who help themselves!

25. Big Society: VCS role in public services • “a valuable role” • “reach and engage” • “understand need and pioneer new approaches” • bid to run services “where appropriate” • identify barriers and implement measures Queen’s Speech – Estimates for the public services

26. Government priorities for the VCS • Level playing field • Less bureaucracy • More resources • less central government money • bigger share of local public spending • diverse income streams to support independence

27. VCS priorities for the VCS • protect and promote interests of excluded people • promote and train people for participative engagement • facilitate and develop structures for representative engagement • empower local people and communities

28. What the VCS offers • essential support for civil society • local intelligence and expertise • democratic renewal • local accountability • economic contribution • Compact compliance • criticism and challenge

29. …reaches thesmallestcommunities! We can ensure that the Big Society…

30. Big Society…

31. Big Society… "Can you tell what it is yet?"