Tag: Big Society

Housing could hold the key to Big Society comms challenge

new homes built by Ocean Housing Cornwall

I’ve blogged before about suggestions that the Big Society is failing to cut through public confusion and apathy. Surveys suggest that most people do not understand it, leaving those responsible for delivering the vision with a major challenge.

So it’s with interest that I started reading The report of the Commission on Big Society, published this month, which gets stuck into this issue in the opening paragraphs:

“People are not clear on what the big society is. Our polling found that 78% of adults in the UK believe the Government has failed to give people a clear idea of what the big society is. Our survey suggested that over 30% of voluntary sector CEOs say they are unclear…
“…We believe the Government should articulate a clearer definition of what it is that it is trying to achieve.”

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Looking at real life localism

Localism project in High Bickington, Devon

I spent yesterday in the village of High Bickginton, which hosts the best  example of localism in action I have seen.

Villagers are driving forward a fantastic development – by local people, for local people. It is set to deliver affordable housing, workspace, employment opportunities and community facilities.

I was there with a colleague, supporters of the project and a journalist from Planning magazine who is writing a feature on High Bickington. I hope this highlights how local action and partnership working can deliver the amenities communities are calling for.

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