In-depth discussions at the Stratford Big Society event on 22nd October 2010

The latest Big Society event covered Coventry and Warwickshire, taking place at Voluntary Action Stratford upon Avon (VASA). A wide cross-section of people from the public sector, voluntary organisations and also some councillors attended the event, and after a selection of presentations the delegates attending the session split into groups to discuss the nature of the Big Society agenda.

One of the most striking things compared with previous events was the optimism and positive outlook in evidence. A round-up of some of the discussion points is below, and this will be followed by a post summarising the points which each group agreed on as the most pertinent issues.

One group was particularly vocal about bureaucracy, with the hope that the future presents opportunities for implementing projects more directly, although they also raised concerns about how the most marginalised sections of society will fare in an era of austerity.

• Will there be a difference in quality of service if you’re replacing existing services with volunteer-led initiatives? You can’t do things for free – there has to be some funding
• There is the danger that the number of volunteers in some of the more marginalised areas will not be enough – particularly in those populated by the poor and asylum seekers etc
• How can we make better use of the digital environment for good in the community?
• There is perhaps a safety issue here, particularly in relation to people from marginalised communities going online
• Communities are powerful already – sometimes that power is held more by the decision makers though
• Working around communities of common interest, rather than geographical area?
• Every community has different problems and needs, which causes problems for organisations trying to manage and help with these issues – causes a need for changes in procedures, and raises the importance of adaptability
• Identifying gaps in services and identifying who can fill these, and how
• Putting organisations in touch with each other, or individuals with organisations, in order to stimulate other partnerships – especially where these groups can work together rather than duplicating projects and creating waste
• Considering new potential funding streams which might be tapped into in the future to compensate for the limited resources available from central government
• There should be differentiation between localities – there is nothing to say that the same project will be effective in a different area; it has to take into account the differences because projects cannot necessarily be implemented in the same way depending on the circumstances of the community involved
• Cuts are a part of the Big Society agenda but we can’t focus too much on that – instead, a change in mindset is necessary to engage with this new way of thinking
• There may be a conflict between personal politics and the professional responsibilities which need addressing

Another discussion group also addressed the issue of bureaucracy, as well as stressing the importance of communication – both between the public sector and communities, and between organisations themselves so that they are aware of what each other is doing – thereby increasing the possibilities for collaboration as well as limiting the likelihood of wastage via duplication of services.

• The problems caused by bureaucracy, where project outcomes or durations are dictated from outside – especially where funding is involved
• The need to be creative and open-minded – but also working with other organisations can sometimes distract from focusing on the projects in hand. There is still a need for sharing resources and working towards common goals
• The difficulty of achieving the same outcomes with less money and fewer staff
• Balancing different clients, different needs and different projects – sustainability is key
• Getting young people involved in volunteering – the importance of realising that young people are pivotal in the attempt to increase volunteering in communities and the local area
• Networks and associations of partners as a way of pooling ideas, experiences and resources
• Can be daunting for people to know where to look for assistance – how do we get messages out to them? This is where online resources and presences can be helpful
• There is a need to be aware of what other people are doing in the surrounding area – not only for the prospect of potential partnerships but also to limit the likelihood of duplication of services. It is useful to know what’s going on

The third discussion group talked about the role of social media in organising communities to reach common goals, as well as the shifts in culture or mindset which will be required if an increase in volunteerism is to take place and be effective in serving the local area.

• Parish Councils discussed.  How can parish councils work with their community to fill gaps as funding is withdrawn?  With the small amounts of money that is available through Parish councils how can they make the money work harder? Are they able to help community groups as catalysts? Some projects are suitable for local council level not others – meals on wheels couldn’t be done because of food hygiene issues.  But could residents feed their neighbour?  What regulations could or should change to make that possible?
• Working with the private sector – what does it mean?  Some companies feel they have a moral obligation to be involved with the community and we should make it as easy as possible for people to do this
• Big sums of money can be a problem…With New Deal for Communities report there was so much money that the politics of spending it bogged down the process.  Officers said we would have been better off if we had no money or very little money
• It is a myth that the unemployed will volunteer, according to experience from the 1980s.  There were 90 or so organisations in our community, all running by working and motivated people
• For communities with intense problems of unemployment they need resources to mobilise.  Might there be more smaller grants? You need to start with community cohesion – people speaking to each other, using simple methods like collective clean ups for example.  Sharing food is a great way to do that
• We have a culture based on “the state will provide”.  It may take generations to overcome – or perhaps a period of anarchy?
• What do we – or I need to do to turn conflict into a positive.  Neighbourhood Watch emerged from frustration with the authorities doing nothing about Anti Social Behaviour
• Social media can help find alternative ways to organise