Thinking lean BT Volunteer scheme
Government urged to ‘demonstrate leadership’ over the Big Society
Reach trustee says Ministers need to understand the psychology of volunteering
The voluntary sector is currently involved in a major public consultation exercise, designed to examine what support is required by front-line organisations that will play key roles in delivering the Big Society. The consultation was launched late last year by the Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, who claimed that the Government’s vision of the Big Society offered charities and voluntary groups ‘huge opportunities’.
Now, the clarity of that vision is being questioned by Iain Herbertson, who is a Reach Trustee. Iain, a former UK Managing Director of the multi-national employment giant Manpower, argues that the Government needs to do more to define what it means by the Big Society.
'When it comes to the phrase ‘Big Society’, there seems to be no shortage of definitions flying around. The Government has talked of community empowerment and of fostering cultures of volunteerism and philanthropy. But whatever its vision, it seems to me that Ministers have so far failed to describe the Big Society in powerful and compelling terms which everyone can understand and unite behind. For the Big Society to become a ‘big idea’ that really takes root, it needs champions who can clarify the vision, explain the problems that it solves and compellingly call us all to action.
One of the problems is that many of the ideas being talked about are far from new. Volunteering, philanthropy and action by the local community have been with us for very many years. According to Government statistics, almost half the adult population currently participate in some form of volunteering at least once a month. One could be forgiven for thinking that a culture of volunteerism already exists and that what is actually needed are measures to encourage and foster it. To develop these, the Government could usefully do more to understand the psychology of volunteering.
Above all else, I think the Government needs to clarify exactly what it means by the Big Society; both what it is and how it differs from previous ways of doing things. Ministers should spell out the strategy for introducing the Big Society along with their proposals for how it might be implemented. And they need to demonstrate leadership. They should set an example by applying the same discipline to the creation of the Big Society as they are bringing to bear on the problem of the fiscal deficit.
For example, one issue widely taken onboard by the voluntary sector in recent years is the need for more rigorous evaluation of its activities. This approach is just as important whether programmes are of a capital nature (eg new computer systems) or involve service provision (eg the potential contribution of volunteers to improve the performance of the Welfare to Work agenda). At Reach we believe that effective evaluation can only improve the role of volunteering in the Big Society. Hopefully, the Government will show the way, and be rigorous in evaluating any projects it funds as part of creating the Big Society.
I think it would also be helpful if the Government explained more about how the environment for the Big Society might be created. What would be the incentives for philanthropists to support it? How would the interface with Government operate? And what issues of governance and compliance need to be addressed? More clarity from the Government on these and other key issues would really help to put meat on the bone of the Big Society.
It is clear to me, however, that what we don’t need from the Government is more money to support ‘favourite’ causes, to win popularity or to invest in projects that have not been fully evaluated. It was interesting that as soon as it became apparent that there would be a major role for volunteers in the Big Society, demand began to build for a new ‘National Database for Volunteers’ – funded by the Government, of course! In reality, the need for a new database is quite limited. The process of recruiting volunteers is essentially a simple triangular relationship involving matching the work requirements of an organisation with the skills & aspirations of a volunteer, and having the process supported by an intermediary (Reach and other volunteering specialists). Increasingly, the internet is the connecting point between the parties, so why a need for Government intervention?
Ultimately, what is required to successfully create the Big Society is a combination of ingenuity and inspiration to drive new thinking and new ways to improve services at a cost that the UK can afford. Of course there will be a need for more volunteers, especially skilled volunteers, if charities are to step up the provision of public services. At Reach we intend to contribute fully to the debate on the Big Society and to think hard about how we can collaborate with others to better supply our services to all our stakeholders.'
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In addition to his role as a Trustee of Reach, Iain is Special Advisor – Employment to The Mayor’s Fund for London