Housing could hold the key to Big Society comms challenge

I’ve blogged before about suggestions that the Big Society is failing to cut through public confusion and apathy. Surveys have revealed 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.”

Continue reading “Housing could hold the key to Big Society comms challenge”

Links I like 11.01.11

‘Social enterprise has found a new home in housing’ – Guardian Professional
The Guardian’s Social Enterprise Network 
ran a piece yesterday about how social landlords are finding different ways to deliver better homes and stronger communities. My HCA colleague and director Colin Molton is quoted, alongside a number of organisations who have at one time been clients of my former employers IPB Communications.

IPB appoints new director
Speaking of IPB, it would be rude of me not to mention their news, and a huge day for my former colleague John Quinton-Barber. The company has just announced that John (who was senior consultant for three years) has been promoted to the board. I see from his Facebook entries the announcement was made on the same day as his youngest daughter’s first birthday. He has never done things by halves. Congratulations and good luck, JQB!