Cohesive and Strong Communities
Theme Debate
Introduced by:
Diane Rutter – Community Impact
Bucks
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
Cohesive and Strong Communities
Theme
Four groupings of outcomes:
 Sustain and grow a thriving voluntary and
community sector
 Increase the confidence of communities
 Help all communities get on well together
 Reduce levels of disadvantage.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
Cohesive and Strong Communities
Theme Debate:
Supporting Communities
to help themselves.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
The Big Society - introduction:
 A Government Agenda to shift power from
politicians to people
 Aims to devolve power to communities and
local government
 A greater role in public services for voluntary
and community organisations
 Support for the voluntary and community
sector.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
The Big Society – the Vision:
 2020 public services help us to achieve - for
ourselves and each other – things that we value and
cannot achieve on our own. They help us become
the people we want to be, living in a society we
want to be part of.
 2020 public services put us in control of our own
lives. They make us more secure today and more
confident about tomorrow, encouraging us to take
responsibility for ourselves and for others.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
The Big Society – how will it happen?
Public service reform
Empowering local communities to
come together to address local issues
Culture change to support the work of
neighbourhood groups, charities and
social enterprises.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
The Big Society – definition of a
community group:
A new or existing ‘not for profit’ group,
social enterprise, charity
Comprised of people from a local area
With a named leader to act as a
contact and agree to abide by a code
of conduct
Be publicised on line and through other
channels.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
The Big Society – Opportunities:
 Many local people already volunteer, give to charities and
voice their concerns through community groups.
 Community and voluntary organisations already help
strengthen links within and between communities.
 There is a wealth of knowledge amongst volunteers.
 Voluntary and community organisations can help to ensure
that the full range of voices in the community are heard.
 Some voluntary sector organisations have been at the
forefront of opening up data – Charities can use this data to
boost campaigns and lobby Government.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
The Big Society - challenges:
 Current levels of “civic activism” are low.
 Running effective services requires specific skills,
commitment and funding, as does using ‘open data’.
 Participation needs to be inclusive to avoid reinforcing
inequalities.
 Local Authority spending cuts may impact on the funding
of voluntary and community organisations.
 Local strategic relationships may need to be rebuilt or
adapted.
 Localism can mean a lack of consistency.
 It may be against the ethos of some voluntary and
community groups to become involved in delivering
public services, or they may fear loss of identity if they
do.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
Key Issues for South Bucks:
Changing Demographics:
An aging population
Increased migration
Difficulties in accessing services
Significant numbers of “at risk” groups
Retaining the heart of communities –
especially during the current recession.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
Some examples of what’s happened
so far:
 An anti-racist diversity and anti-racism
project “in the mix” took place in Iver
village during 2010.
 Volunteer Workout project - 17 charities, 4
schools and 2 sports clubs involved.
 “Good Neighbour Scheme” innovation fund
bid submitted.
 Think! Burnham initiatives.
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
Supporting communities to help
themselves, consider:
What does the “Big Society” mean to
South Bucks?
How can we deepen engagement so as
to inspire people to come forward and
get involved?
How can partnership working make this
happen?
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities
Cohesive and Strong Communities Theme
Debate – Supporting communities to help
themselves:
Please discuss:
 What can be done to deliver this outcome?
 What can each partner organisation
commit to, to really make a difference?
 What actions can each partner take
forward?
Sustainable Community Strategy – Cohesive and Strong Communities