Big Society- How is it going to work?

[seekinginspiration]

I'm really confused. I do a bit of volunteering (two hours a week - but only when it fits in with other demands). I have to put paid work and family first so I need to earn some money. I think most mums and even some grannies are in this situation. How is it going to work?

amen to that!

another point is that services supporting the most vulnerable and excluded generally work better in a multi agency coordinated approach, just how is that going to work in practice?

will small groups decide who they will support based on their ideas of who is worthy of help rather than who is in most need?

I wonder why Sam doesn't give up her job and offer to run the library, TA at the local comp and run a few meals round to the elderly.

It would set us all a good example.

Custardo. Why would those in poor areas not volunteer? Are you saying I've got more time on my hands than them? or are you saying they are lazy fxxkers who would not get of their arses to volunteer? People in poor areas volunteer ALL the time. Volunteering is not the reserve of those in suburbs or leafy villages, far from it!

It's patronizing to say the poor would not volunteer.

I'm sure will volunteer to keep Boden in business

It's more often the middle classes in leafy suburbs who are arrogant enough to think they actually could do a good job replacing a highly skilled, paid worker.

amen to that as well

Cornsilk. If it's a choice between NO library, or some of us volunteering. I know the choice I would try to make. I said my service won't a be 2nd class service. it will be the 'only service'.

not wanting to answer for Custardo but there are issues, well documented ones keeping certain groups excluded and it takes a degree of organisation and training to address them and mobilise volunteers in more deprived areas, it is not a patronising view but there are reasons keeping people from initiating such activities, things don't happen in a vacuum

Thats a good point sfxmum.

When I worked in children's services (10 yrs ago) we discussed the possibility of child protection being tendered out to charities, namely NSPCC. It's interesting though that many people believe this charity does a great deal to protect children but they have no experience of child protection work.

How will a catholic charity react to service users who are living in same sex relationships, will they refuse to offer their services to gay people, muslims, people living in sin etc.....

and you are okay with that?

Rabbitstew. If you are referring to me I did not say I could replace a highly skilled worker. I would only volunteer if the library was going to be closed, there's nothing wrong with that unless of course you think it's better to close the library. As at present I don't think many of us have a choice.

In my head the Big Society looks a bit like this.

Complimentary, with all due respect Dave and Ian Duncan smith have hatched a plan to get the long term unemployed to "volunteer" so you could keep the library ticking over while Ian and chums get to grips with the redundant librarian and force her to volunteer.

that is exactly the plan. They don't want middle class busybodies sticking their oar in. The librarian will do it or they'll get no unemployment benefit. Betcha.

Do you think I should stop volunteering at the local hospital and let the hospital shop close down? Or that my DH should give up his volunteer work with a homeless action trust? Both of these roles in essence could be filled by paid workers.

That is why people like myself give up volunteering, it's because people could not give a fuck if you volunteer or not, if you're considered middle class, it's seen as something you can afford to do. No it's not, people all over the country give up their time and money to help out, only to be looked down on and sneered at on sites like this. It make me sick.

makes me sick.

I just wanted to say complimentary, we do have a choice, we refuse to volunteer.

If there is work to be done, it should be paid for at the going rate.

This is not just a cynical ploy to cut costs in running and providing public and caring services.

I have this horrid feeling that this is just another way of further undermining the worker. First we had the minimum wage, then an influx of cheap foriegn labour, now free labour.

people who have trained for years are going to lose their jobs and be replaced by 'volunteers'
That makes me sick

For the record I have also volunteered in Drug and alcohol services.

I would still be volunteering at this charity but the funding has been cut. So the cynic in me wonders if Shiny Dave will allow private profit making companies to undercut charity tenders.

Of course he will, next we will have Tesco providing library services for half the price. Smythson's could provide TAs and Goldmansachs could sell shares in meals on wheels.

I'm off to bed, before my head boils

complimentary - no I wasn't referring to you. And I would also probably volunteer in my local library, if the only alternative were closure. That's not the Big Society that's being advertised, though, is it? The Government isn't going around saying: "Step in for free or you'll get b*gger all services, that's the real deal - although we don't really care a hoot one way or the other what you actually do, just don't bother us about it." They are pretending that people want to and ought to volunteer more, but that the State is disenfranchising them. Then they are suggesting we get involved in all sorts of things that can't really be done properly on a voluntary, part-time, fitting-in-between-home-and-paid-work basis. At most, they are saying everyone should be nicer, except for the rich, who can't be made to be nicer.

and speaking of social and caring services, people are living longer and the numbers with Dementia and Alzheimer's are increasing, these demand more specialized services and pray tell who will provide them?
social care provision is already dire, will there be an army of volunteers to bathe and toilet them to feed and care for them?

Sorry, but this really does 'get my goat'.The shop I work in would not exist were it not for volunteers. Hospitals simply would not have a 'shop' for the patients or visitors. One shop I know is closing down, to be replaced by WH Smith. Do you think it will sell lovely hand made cardigans for the prem babies for £5 and other items donated by well wishers? Certainly not. No, the shop staffed by volunteers is far superior for the patients than a shop that is commercial/ staffed by paid people.

Other volunteers take around books that patients can buy or borrow. They become freinds with patients and are an invaluable part of the hospital and the servoce it provides.

"Mr Cameron insisted that ministers are opening up billions of pounds of Government contracts so that charities and social enterprises can compete for the first time."

What are social enterprises?

Complimentary, The shop run by volunteers is indeed brilliant at what it does and WHsmith is a profit hungry giant. But if people have mouths to feed they will work for WHsmith.