Big Society's Big Mouth Powered by v

Hello again,

We have also heard about the Notorious traveller site "Dale Farm" I think when we speak about big society and people sticking together for the common good this stands out, we have seen a community be told they will be evicted, they have residents that are ill and have nowhere but this place, the people who live there send kids to local schools and are settled.

The council (Tory) should be thinking about big society, no ? Half the site is legal and the other half is not (no planning permission) so it can be seen as quite wrong but lets look at the big picture, it is a site that homes people, a community that sticks together to protect their homes and livelihoods, they are doing what they can and what they feel is right to protect this land.

They are a community
They are looking out for each other
They are sufficient - they have built homes on the land
They are making a stand

the above sounds like a good concept for big society so why is this so much of a threat ?
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Hey!! how are you ? ohh it's been too long.

Today I read a rather chilling article about children as young as eaight (8) being involved in a UFC Fight club fighting, Now it is a sport and it is legal so there is room for this ? Well when you think of the development of children and young people having punches to vital parts of the body could damage development no ? For example iif you took a punch to the head there could be medical involvement because all sorts can go wrong.

But with that comment the same can happen to a healthy grown up, we used to have boxing in schools and clubs so why is there so much fuss around a controlled fight ? It is not mainstreme I understand that but is it worth all this fuss ?

And the other revelation was that it was happening in a Labour club.... Now the government has shown interest, it will be interesting to see how this developes.

what are your views ?  Read less

Hi All

Hope you're all well.

Been a while since I posted.

Just wanted to let you all know we're still fighting hard for young people. We've been speaking to the local council, our MPs and have even manage to speak to Nick Hurd under our local MPs behalf. We're moving forward in every way possible.

We are in a very strong position at the moment. As you're well aware, the riots saw young people take to the streets and cause chaos. It is the minority who contribute to the negative stereotype but KIC FM have been at the forefront providing a service for the community tackling that negative image.

Young volunteers insisted getting back involved with KIC and we made the decision to temporarily re-open to help diffuse the situation. Our young people been active, broadcasting messages of calm to their peers and getting views from local people during and after the incidents.

KIC FM have also been on the forefront of the riots leading the social networks coverage on twitter. We provided Wolverhampton with factual, real time updates from 4pm - 11pm with young people leading the way whilst monitoring key members of West Midlands Police closely on twitter, We as an organisation brought positivity back to young people. We received hundreds of messages of support, from Councillors, Labour MPs, Celebrities and the people of Wolverhampton during the incidents. Some examples.

@WolverhamptonLD
WolverhamptonLD
though think it is a great shame that the Prime Minister failed to meet with @KICfm whilst visiting Wolverhampton

@WV11
WV11.co.uk
Great to hear @KicFM - the real voice of Wolverhampton youth urging teens to go home & stay out of the city centre this afternoon/evening!

@AqueousGraphics
Julie Metcalfe
@KICfm great coverage tonight of the riots in wolves - you've done brilliantly - a real inspiration!

@stattosteve
Steve Hermon
@TheDiaryOfJay Agree with you. Well done to @KICfm. Some dedicated young people volunteer there. They've put some full-time media to shame.

We also reported live for Sky News due to the detail of our coverage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RyHAn8NNUY&feature=share

Following on from the riots, BBC London phoned us to be part of the audience of Young Voters' Question Time. It was an amazing experience, yet again acting as positive role models for our youth of Wolverhampton. Attached are photos of myself and a young volunteer in front row

To see brilliant work our young people carried out in the last week alone, please visit.....

www.kicfm.com/shows/riots

You will also find a blog there about my personal experience deep in the riots.

Hope you're all well.

Kenny Mach
Station Manager
www.kicfm.com

www.twitter.com/kenny_mach
www.twitter.com/kicfm
www.facebook.com/kic.fm Read less

I have noticed as rise in prejudice against chavs and also against so called Toff's and posh people.
The Oxford dictionary defines Chav as a young lower-class person typified by brash and loutish behaviour and the wearing of (real or imitation) designer clothes.

What really worries me about this issue is that our public figures are also engaging in this attitude and prejudice which means that everyone in out society is using these labels in a negative way even if they aren't opening their mouths; so much to equal opportunities and access for all!  Read less

The Government has unveiled new Big Society plans to make it easier and more attractive to give time and money to good causes. Apparently people giving time/money has flat-lined, so the Cabinet Office has published the “Giving White Paper” to kick start our “culture of philanthropy”. It looks at how they can work with charities and businesses to support new ways for us to fit our contributions into our busy lives.

There’s a link to the full report below, which in a nutshell includes:

• A £10million Social Action Fund to support the most promising ideas for growing giving in priority areas in England and boosting levels of engagement over the next two years – including new schemes for people to volunteer a little when it suits them or match funding school philanthropy projects
• Challenge Prizes, of up to £100,000 for the best solutions to volunteer challenges
• A £30 million fund to improve the effectiveness of infrastructure organisations that support front line organisations
• £1 million to support Youthnet which runs the volunteering website www.do-it.org.uk and which will share its data more freely with organisations. Facebook have said that they will make this data accessible through them
• £700,000 to support Philanthropy UK connecting wealthy people with charities that need their support
• £400,000 support from Government and NESTA to trial ‘Spice’ in England which gives volunteers ‘thank yous’ like vouchers or discounts with local businesses when they do good things for the community
• Establishing a new honours committee to ensure people are recognised and celebrated for exceptional and sustained philanthropy
• Trial charity promotions on the public service website Directgov that gets around 4.5 million visits per week
• Open up government buildings to charities and voluntary groups
• Hold a Giving Summit in the Autumn to bring together charities, philanthropists, businesses, technologists and financiers to set the course for the future of giving
• All Ministers have agreed to a one day volunteering challenge

What do you think? Will these initiatives increase volunteering and financial donations?
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I think it's already been mentioned somewhere on BSBM but the Government is enshrining into law that 0.7% of our GDP must go towards international aid. With many public services being slashed and council budgets being squeezed, is this right or should we be spending money at closer to home?
Personally, I think it's not only a moral duty but a fundamental right to give a percentage of our national income to those who are in the most need - I wouldn't want to see people die or being trapped in impoverishment as a result of cutting Department for International Development funding but it could be better targeted.  Read less