The Big Society: News from the Frontline in Eden

August 2010

This paper summarises thegovernment’s ‘Big Society’ policy with particular reference to the pilot inEden.

The government’s ‘Big Society’project was launched by David Cameron in Liverpool on 19^th July2010. As part of this, four areas have been identified as Vanguard Communitieswhere it is intended to ‘turn government completely on its head’. These areasare Eden, Liverpool, Sutton and Windsor & Maidenhead.

David Cameron said: “My great passionis building the Big Society. Anyone who’s had even a passing interest in whatI’ve been saying for years will know that.

“The ‘Big Society’ is…somethingdifferent and bold… It’s about saying if we want real change for the long-term,we need people to come together and work together – because we’re all in thistogether.

“(We want) Neighbourhoods who are incharge of their own destiny, who feel if they club together and get involvedthey can shape the world around them.

“If you’ve got an idea to make lifebetter, if you want to improve your local area, don’t just think about it –tell us what you want to do and we will try and give you the tools to make thishappen.”

 David Cameron outlined what are to be thethree major strands of Big Society which include: “First, social action. Thesuccess of the Big Society will depend on the daily decisions of millions ofpeople – on them giving their time, effort, even money, to causes around them.So government cannot remain neutral on that – it must foster and support a newculture of voluntarism, philanthropy, social action.

“Second, public service reform. We’vegot to get rid of the centralised bureaucracy that wastes money and underminesmorale. And in its place we’ve got give professionals much more freedom, andopen up public services to new providers like charities, social enterprises andprivate companies so we get more innovation, diversity and responsiveness topublic need.

“And third, community empowerment. Weneed to create communities with oomph – neighbourhoods who are in charge oftheir own destiny, who feel if they club together and get involved they canshape the world around them.”

For fullbriefing paper please click here.