Please tell me about this "Big Society" thing

[ForMashGetSmash]

I know very little about politics...I recently learned about The Big Society...and feel a bit about it all.

As far as I can see, it's about communities being asked to take more responsibilty for some public services and for people who have "vision" to stand up and organise improvements to their community.

What worries me is that in some areas...those with big problems such as high unemployment and crime, there may be a lack of people who have the time or energy to contibute...and certain things may be allowed to dissapear. I see that it has been suggested that Library's have volunteers instead of staff....that worries me also.

Could this scheme be allowed to go too far? Could certain things which society really relies on... completely dissapear?

"If they're not working they'd probably have more time than those working."

The problem is that to get benefits, you have to make yourself available for work, not be off volunteering.

You can volunteer whilst your on JSA, it is even encouraged as it means there is no gap on your CV.

However, it's not easy to do a job well if you are popping in and out, and maybe not around next week. Fine if you are popping in to change the church flowers, not so great if you are providing a service to vulnerable people.

I don't agree I'm afraid I was recently unemployed and on JSA but I volunteered for a local charity for people with learning disabilities and the CAB, I have since found employment but I have carried on working for the charitys. I've had to adjust my hours but the majority of charitys are flexible in this regard

I am willing to accept that in your situation this worked out well, but I strongly believe that the kind of volunteer work you are describing cannot replace consistent, qualified staff.

Local councils are cutting back on funding for Learning Support Assistants in school. This kind of job cannot be replaced by untrained volunteers.

I worked as a voluntary teaching assistant at a school whilst at university. I was in the 3rd year of my degree and frankly knew a lot more about maths than the paid TAs.

Not talking about TAs, talking about LSAs for children who need additional support. Also, you may have been brilliant in the classroom, Huddspur. Other voluntary helpers can be a mixed bag.

In either case, I think people popping in and out of the classroom can be an absolutely awful idea. I'm not criticising parents who provide sustained support. I am saying that I don't think there is an untapped resource of additional volunteers who will make up for funding cuts.

I don't think people should ridicule this idea. I think there is some potential in it, the Labour Party threw a lot of money at the public services and to be honest the results have been pretty poor considering how much money has been spent.

No-one is ridiculing it. People are saying that having thought about the practicalities, they son't see how it can possibly work.

I think we need to wait and see how this idea is implemented in practice. I admit I'm sceptical about it but we need to change the way that are public services are facilitated as the current ways of doing things are unsustainable.

Its all about cuts, and the 'big society' is dave's response to anyone who complains about the loss of essential and much valued services. In effect, it means "stop complaining and do it yourself".

He is using it to pass off responsibility from the government (where it belongs) to a vague, unaccountable group of anonymous, unsalaried volunteers.