big society: opportunities and challenges for the voluntary & community sector robert beard

Improving

Local Partnerships

Big Society:opportunities and challengesfor the voluntary & community sector

Robert BeardImproving 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

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Decentralisation!

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Decentralisation! Decent

what??

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The national context

• deficit reduction• protecting frontline

services and communities• small state

‒ decentralisation• Big Society

– Active citizens– Community groups

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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%

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Deficit reduction – VCS response

• open dialogue with funders• VCS not an easy target• must be able to plan ahead

and deliver effectively

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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

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Small state – Decentralisation & Localism Bill• 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

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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

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Small state – Local Enterprise Partnerships

• RDAs axed by March 2012• proposals for LEPs• “natural economic areas”• economic white paper “later in the summer”

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Small state – LEPs and the VCS

• VCS contribution to local economy:

– Lincolnshire: £410 million

– Nottingham: £227 million

Voluntary Action

North Lincolnshire

Voluntary Action

North East Lincolnshire

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Small state – LEPs and the VCS

• VCS initially ‘overlooked’• NAVCA campaign

Greg Clark: ‘VCS is welcome’• role of local VCS reps

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Big Society – VCS response

• A “fig-leaf” for cuts

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Big Society – VCS response

• A “fig-leaf” for cuts

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Big Society – VCS response

• Reinventing the wheel

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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?

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• to capitalise organisations for service delivery

• existing or ‘reinvented’ groups?

Big Society – Big Society Bank

Because it’s

there!

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Big Society – National Citizen Service

• for young people to develop skills for engagement and become active, responsible citizens

• “compulsory volunteering”?

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Big Society – Community Organisers God helps those who

help themselv

es!

• 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

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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

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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

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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

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What the VCS offers

• essential support for civil society• local intelligence and expertise• democratic renewal• local accountability• economic contribution• Compact compliance• criticism and challenge

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We can ensure that the We can ensure that the

Big SocietyBig Society……

……reachesreaches the the smallestsmallest comcommunitiesmunities!!

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BigSociety…

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BigSociety…