Big Society's Big Mouth Powered by v

Today, Michael Gove described trade unionism as militancy and suggested that the government is considering bringing in new laws to curtail the unions’ power. Like a phoenix from the ashes, Thatcher rises again to scorch this land anew. At least this time the lady is a bit more tempted by “that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn”.

I’ve always been concerned about the Thatcherite nature of the New Conservatives; no dramatic overstatement here. Something about the Big Society has always struck me as acutely similar to the suggestion that “there is no such thing as society”; the kind of do-it-yourself principle of Cameron’s policies seem to me to be removing government support for societies, not building it up.

Now the Conservative-led government has launched a fresh attack on public sector unions, who stand up for us against the government and the absurd battle-axe it insists on waving about above its head like a drunken ogre (like a drunken Maggie). What will happen to them? Will they continue to campaign? Will they win? I have a feeling that the government is underestimating them and the public’s support for them. An interesting battle is about to be fought, and Michael Gove has just thrown down the gauntlet.

By the way, all that drivel about teachers losing respect for standing up for their rights is complete nonsense. It reads like an Edward Lear poem. I respect my teachers all the more for having a point of view and for fighting for it. That’s what they teach us to do, after all. Read less

Hey vbigmouth!

The government has cut funding to hundreds of youth organisations across the country forcing a majority of them to close down.

**How can the Big Society exist without young people?**

I work and volunteer for a youth organisation in Wolverhampton called Kids in Communication (www.kicfm.com) that has had its funding cut because of government reductions. We engaged over 5000 young people in community media projects improving employability, confidence and social skills. I think everyone understands the need for cuts but was cutting everything so viscously a better alternative to gradually reducing funding while looking at all these organisations? After this evaluation period, if an organisation isn't preforming then cut it. If an organisation is giving young people skills, if it's keeping people away from crime or giving a valuable service then keep it.

**How quickly can the rich network of voluntary organisations that has been lost because of government cuts be rebuilt?**

With a team at KIC, I've been filling out countless applications for funding, one of them is the governments Transition Fund. it was set up to help organisations change to become more sustainable in the future. The negative is that only a minute proportion can be used continue the services it provided before. This has closed too. As valuable as the fund is, some MPs seem to hide behind it so I thought I'd quickly explain it for everyone. (I'm sure Andre Stunell could do a better job of explaining though).

**Does the government have a policy for youth volunteering in the future?**

We all need to keep fighting for the amazing voluntary youth sector we've all created. We can't let it disappear. Young people are being disproportionately effected by these cuts and it breaks my heart to think so many vulnerable young people are missing out on support.

Thanks for you time. Save KIC! Save Youth Volunteering! Save Young people! Read less

Hi Andrew

My names Kenny, and I'm involved with Kids In Communication, a young persons radio station and a support network for young people.

Funded by VInspired for the last 3 years, our project, along with hundreds up and down the country was cut on the 31st March. We were solely funded by V, and as of this date, we were forced to close our doors to young people.

Over 13 years, we have trained over 5000 young people, around 500 a year, with many of them progressing into employment, education as well as life skills gained from being involved in the media environment.

Let me tell you my position. I volunteered here for 3 years prior to employment, so I know how important youth services like ourselves are. Opportunities arose, and I am now employed here for 2 years delivering front line services to young people and giving back the experience I received 5 years ago.

Right now, our £100,000 studios has now turned into an office. It makes me quite sick that instead of being full of vibrant, young volunteers, it is now filled with paper work, and empty bottles of water left by myself and my small team. We're working tirelessly trying to save the very little we have left in Wolverhampton.

I understand cuts, I accept the cuts, the objectives of the Big Society and the need to become sustainable - my problem is the time scale of the cuts - does it have to be cut so damn harshly? It's taken us 13 years to build the KIC FM rapport with our partners and young people and the vicious cuts are destroying this if it hasn't done so already.

I understand you are part of a team that is responsible for the 'implementation of The Big Society.'

My question is, why don't you embrace the rich volunteering culture Britain has to deliver The Big Society goals? Look at all the passionate young people on VBigMouth. We have such a strong youth army in the UK. They're already battered and bruised from the ridiculous rise in university fees, scrapping of EMA and they're still here fighting hard for the only thing they have left - youth services. I know, as KIC FM has reached national news, featured by BBC News, ITV News, The Guardian and much more - all down to them.

I urge you to listen, and not forget about young people. They will after all, shape the future of Britain.

I'm not afraid to say this, but right now, I trust young people more than I do Central Government.

Save KIC. Save Youth Services.

Kenny Mach
KIC FM Station Manager

www.twitter.com/kenny_mach
www.twitter.com/kicfm
#savekic Read less

The Big Society concept is based upon volunteering - everybody doing their bit. But does the government recognise that volunteering doesn't just happen by osmosis?

Volunteers dont just come forward or suddenly materialise as if by magic! Volunteering needs a funded infrastructure behind it to develop and support volunteer management.

What is this government doing to ensure that volunteer infrastructure isn't done on the cheap?

What is the government doing to ensure that 'localism' fits with volunteering?

Funding national bodies does not bring about localised change - by the time the national, the regional and the countywide bodies have top sliced management costs there is nothing left at grassroots level to do any of the real work at the coalface! Read less

I see where your coming from Leanne, and maybe this big scoiety is pie in the sky, but I do think it will have positive effects on our communities. We do need to help each other out more the goverment sure as hell arent going to do it and this idea does give us the chance to do that, you touched on there being a 60 percent cut on services such as connexions, in my opinion not a loss, everytime i have used these facilities the help i have received has been poor and useless and youth clubs majority of the time are poorly run, what i am trying to get at is WE are going to have more control over what is going on in our communties rather than being told what can and cant be done, yeah it is a cop out and an excuse for cost cutting but we can use the big society to benefit us. and let me add i dont usually agree with anything the goverment does and i think that all the parties are a joke, and maybe just maybe as long as the big society in our areas are governed by people that arent affiliated with any particular party we will get what we want for our societies rather than what the goverment wants  Read less

I think the "big society" can work with people volunteering, but for people like leanne who have a lot on their plate already, it is too much to ask, i agree. Volunteering is only so good when people are able to get involved.

About the housing issue involving only 35's and above, this is outrageous as me and my boyfriend are trying to get a flat and already finding it difficult enough to get the deposit and get the right advice and our parents can't help us out as they're both trying to pay their own morgages! David Cameron is lucky to choose where on Downing Street he wants to live (doesn't even live in number 10 officially as it was too small) and not have to worry about all that, but for us on the ground he needs to live in our shoes and not be the stuck up tory he is.

He speaks raesonably plainly about what he's going to do, doesn't mean it's for the better. Read less