The idea is, widely speaking, to empower local communities, redistribute power and to boost the social volunteerism. David Cameron described its aim in following words: "The big society is about changing the way our country is run. No more of a government treating everyone like children ...let's treat adults like adults and give them more responsibility over their lives".The initial areas of implementing this concept are:
- Liverpool, Merseyside (withdrew from pilot in February 2011)
- Eden, Cumbria
- Sutton, Greater London
- Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire
In order to lounch the Big Society concept a Big Society Bank was established in 2010 with the initial founds of 200M pounds. The UK government reportedly plans to unlock £78bn in charitable assets for big society and hand over up to 25% of public service contracts to private and voluntary sector.
Some media analysts claim that, behind the BS idea, Cameron tries to cover massive cuts in public spending:
First, it's about providing a different agenda to the day by day litany of cuts, cuts and more cuts.
Second, it is - as Eric Pickles has acknowledged - about saving money. If people are doing things for free then you don't have to pay public servants to do them for you.
Second, it is - as Eric Pickles has acknowledged - about saving money. If people are doing things for free then you don't have to pay public servants to do them for you.
Norman Smith
