{"id":9421,"date":"2015-01-28T16:42:03","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T16:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ihbconline.co.uk\/newsachive\/?p=9421"},"modified":"2015-01-28T16:42:03","modified_gmt":"2015-01-28T16:42:03","slug":"has-big-society-failed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=9421","title":{"rendered":"Has Big Society Failed?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Civil Exchange has carried out research into the impact of the Big Society and published a report \u2018Whose Society\u2019 which assesses the impact of the changes introduced in government measures originally designed to encourage people to be able to have more say over decisions affecting them and their area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Civil Exchange writes:
\n<\/span>The Big Society project to hand power back to the people has largely failed against its own measures, leaving the country more divided, with less influence over decisions and receiving less accountable services, according to a landmark study published today.<\/p>\n

Whose Society? The Final Big Society Audit, the culmination of a three-year investigation into a key initiative of the Coalition Government, finds that the Big Society \u2013 using its own criteria of empowering communities, opening up public services and stimulating social action \u2013 has not, despite some positive initiatives, delivered the radical change that David Cameron promised.<\/p>\n

The study by the independent think tank Civil Exchange sounds a warning for the next government, saying that it must be genuinely inclusive, target those most in need and harness the energy of the voluntary and private sectors if the Big Society mistakes are not to be repeated.<\/p>\n

The report\u2019s author, Caroline Slocock, director of Civil Exchange, said: \u2018Despite investment in the Big Society, it has largely failed. Our findings show that society is more divided than before, we feel less able to influence what happens in our communities and public services are, in some ways, less accountable and responsive to diverse needs.\u00a0 Many people may ask what happened to the Big Society? It was a key commitment of this government and they are entitled to know whether it worked, even though the Government hardly mentions it now.\u00a0 The real question, however, is what happens next? Whatever name it goes under, the next government will continue to look for ways to give power back to people, to make services more responsive and to encourage local action. To do this successfully requires much better collaboration with local and voluntary groups, giving people a genuine stake in local decision making, reviewing the way we contract companies to deliver public services and making sure major businesses give back more to society.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Whose Society?\u2019 makes key recommendations for the next government including a shift in government and public sector culture to make it work far more collaboratively with civil society, a civil society led Commission on using existing resources to create a fairer society, and a major review of public sector contracting, ensuring services work in the interests of those they mean to serve, particularly those whose needs are greatest.<\/p>\n

Using detailed analysis and data from a wide range of government and other authoritative sources, \u2018Whose Society?\u2019 finds that, despite significant investment in Big Society schemes, including for volunteering and local decision making:<\/p>\n