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Big Society: risks and opportunities for rural communities
We are publishing the results of our analysis of over 70 submissions of evidence from civil society organisations and others on the economic aspects of the government’s Big Society agenda, in our new report ‘Economic conditions for organisations contributing to the Big Society in rural England‘.
Last month we drew on these submissions to prepare a report to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – ‘Rural Economies Intelligence Report: The Big Society‘.
Our analysis shows that the principles of the Big Society approach are already well embedded and supported in much of rural England. But many civil society organisations have real fears that the current funding climate will significantly damage further progress in delivering Big Society objectives. Moreover demand for many of their services is growing at a time when resources are reducing.
Responses to our call for evidence also reveal a fear that rural communities may be disproportionately affected by the forthcoming spending cuts. And there are concerns that local authorities and others may set up new delivery organisations that start competing with existing voluntary organisations of various types also come through. There is also a view that in future local rural communities may have to depend more on actions from their local parish and town councils.
Our respondents call for more clarity from central and local government and others on what the practical impacts and consequences of the Big Society approach will be, with a feeling that there is little hard information available about the Big Society agenda.
The civil society organisations who gave us evidence were clear that with the right support and encouragement there is much more that they could do to help rural communities and particularly vulnerable people within our rural communities.
We shall be publishing our own views and advice to Government on delivering the Big Society approach in rural England later in the year.
Download ‘Economic conditions for organisations contributing to the Big Society in rural England’
Download ‘Rural Economies Intelligence Report: The Big Society’
