Crtical Evaluation of 'the Big Society'
The Voluntary Sector
The purpose of this essay is to critically analyse the notion of the ‘Big Society’. Through discussing influences on the operations of voluntary organisations in contemporary society and analysing the interface between the voluntary sector and policy makers the aim is to ascertain whether its implementation as a piece of social policy is realistic.
On May 6th 2010 the general election took place but no party achieved the 362 seats required for an overall majority. David Cameron, the conservative Party leader won the largest number of votes but still fell short by 20 seats, this then resulted in a hung parliament. After discussions, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats came together to form the coalition government.
The term “third sector” was defined by The Cabinet Office of the British government up until 2010 as “the place between State and private sector”. The Conservative/Liberal Democratic coalition government retitled the department the Office for Civil Society. The term Civil Society may be more recognisable as the term ‘Big Society’, which was introduced as a central motive for the Conservative Party election manifesto in 2010 and again is highlighted as a central policy initiative for the coalition government. David Cameron states in his and the deputy Prime Minister’s speech at the Big Society launch that ‘it’s going to be the voluntary sector, social enterprises (no longer to be called ‘the third sector’, from now on: that phrase is to be abolished). The office of the voluntary sector and social enterprise sector will be a bigger part of government than ever.’
Jeremy Kendall (2003) describes the voluntary sector as ‘increasingly central to public policy debates, and is one of the fastest growing segments of the economy in the UK... The expectation is that we should turn to this sector to address a raft of pressing societal problems, from social exclusion to environmental degradation.’
Unlike today,
The purpose of this essay is to critically analyse the notion of the ‘Big Society’. Through discussing influences on the operations of voluntary organisations in contemporary society and analysing the interface between the voluntary sector and policy makers the aim is to ascertain whether its implementation as a piece of social policy is realistic.
On May 6th 2010 the general election took place but no party achieved the 362 seats required for an overall majority. David Cameron, the conservative Party leader won the largest number of votes but still fell short by 20 seats, this then resulted in a hung parliament. After discussions, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats came together to form the coalition government.
The term “third sector” was defined by The Cabinet Office of the British government up until 2010 as “the place between State and private sector”. The Conservative/Liberal Democratic coalition government retitled the department the Office for Civil Society. The term Civil Society may be more recognisable as the term ‘Big Society’, which was introduced as a central motive for the Conservative Party election manifesto in 2010 and again is highlighted as a central policy initiative for the coalition government. David Cameron states in his and the deputy Prime Minister’s speech at the Big Society launch that ‘it’s going to be the voluntary sector, social enterprises (no longer to be called ‘the third sector’, from now on: that phrase is to be abolished). The office of the voluntary sector and social enterprise sector will be a bigger part of government than ever.’
Jeremy Kendall (2003) describes the voluntary sector as ‘increasingly central to public policy debates, and is one of the fastest growing segments of the economy in the UK... The expectation is that we should turn to this sector to address a raft of pressing societal problems, from social exclusion to environmental degradation.’
Unlike today,
References: Beech, M & Lee, S (2011) The Cameron- Clegg Government, Hampshire: Palgrave McMillan. Home Office, (1998), Compact on Relations between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in England, Cm. 4100, London: Stationery Office. Hughes-Hallet, T (2011) Philanthropy Review chair slams Big Society Bank, Civil Society 19 Jan 2011 Jowell, T cited in Stott, M (2011) The Big Society Challenge, Cardiff :Keystone Development Trust Publications. Kendall, J (2003) The Voluntary Sector, Oxon: Routledge. Shackle, S (2011) Forth time lucky for David Cameron’s “big society”? New Statesman. May 23rd 2011 The Coalition (2010) Our Programme for Government.(2010) The Cabinet Office Ref