Volunteers and the Big Society

When I became a voluntary Board member of a Housing Association back in 1994, I remember a consultant telling us that only 4% of the population became involved in voluntary activity. I have no idea how accurate that figure was, nor what the equivalent is 16 years later, but I cannot imagine it being much higher, if at all. It is also important to note that of the percentage a significant proportion come from a faith background, and it is well established that religious groups are providers of "social capital", to use the jargon. So, on the one hand, we welcome an emphasis upon voluntary action, as churches are both sources and beneficiaries of exactly this type of activity, but, on the other, we wonder where it is going to come from. We might also welcome the question of what constraints are placed on this activity that government could now remove - increased levels of bureaucracy which discourage people from becoming volunteers for instance. But the underlying concern is surely that of what overall culture would need to be created in order to increase levels of volunteering, and the limits of central government action in reconstructing a more helpful operating environment for voluntary action.
I must admit, as I watched David Cameron being grilled this morning on BBC breakfast TV about his mission to create the Big Society, I almost felt sorry for him. Yes he was talking about this idea well before the policy of massive cuts in public spending which will undoubtedly damage the voluntary sector were on the agenda. Yes I do believe that he is serious about the idea and that parts of it are worth looking at and pursuing. It would be good for those with more experience of operating in this sector to sit down with the government and explain a few facts of life to them. But because everything is being done in an almighty hurry, and it feels as though we are being bombarded with a new policy each day, there is simply no time to reflect and consider what is really involved. What is of value here is in danger of being lost because of the way the government is going about its business, with undue haste and disturbing lack of rigour. A lot of reseach has been done in this field; there is good stuff out there. Take proper time and listen and step back from this "Ernie Wise" approach to government - i.e. here are another 3 policies what I wrote today!!! If you are serious about returning power to local communities and civil society, then you must accept that government will exercise far less control than at present, and that the result may not be quite as anticipated. The activists that remain are not likely to be in tune with other parts of the coalition agendas - bring it on then!