ePapers Repository

Below the radar in a Big Society? Reflections on community engagement, empowerment and social action in a changing policy context

McCabe, Angus (2010) Below the radar in a Big Society? Reflections on community engagement, empowerment and social action in a changing policy context. Working Paper. University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WP51_BTR_in_a_Big_Society_McCabe_Dec_2010.pdf
378Kb

URL of Published Version: http://www.tsrc.ac.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=OMbpEZaAMKI%3d&tabid=500

Abstract

‘The Big Society’ has become a key element of the Coalition’s Government policy platform, not only on the delivery of public services by the formal and funded voluntary sector but also in terms of communities, more informal third sector activities and individual citizens. Whilst the term itself is recent, and accompanied by the ‘new language’ of social action, there are continuities between the current Coalition policy objectives and those of the previous New Labour administration: the devolution of powers to the local level, the reconfiguration of services and promotion of community engagement, empowerment and active citizenship.
This working paper explores the debates about, ‘below the radar’ (BTR) community groups and their assumed role in delivering ‘big society’. It argues that the motivators for community action are, and have been, ill understood in policy circles. Further, there is and has been little systematic analysis of the power relationship between the state (both locally and nationally) communities and neighbourhoods which can inform meaningful debate on devolution and localism. The paper examines the implications of the ‘new’ policy environment for small community groups and asks can such activity, which has often been independent of, and operated outside the state, be co-opted to deliver particular government policy objectives?

Type of Work:Monograph (Working Paper)
School/Faculty:Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Social Sciences
Number of Pages:21
Department:Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC)
References:

Alcock, P. (2010) A strategic unity: defining the third sector in the UK Voluntary Sector Review Vol. 1 No1. Bristol: Policy Press.

Alinsky, S. (1971) Rules for Radicals: A pragmatic primer for realistic radicals. New York: Vintage Books.

Atkinson, A. B. (1983) Social Justice and Public Policy. Brighton: Wheatsheaf.

Bacon, N., Brophy, M., Mguni, N., Mulgan, G. and Shandro, A. (2010) The State of Happiness: can public policy shape people’s wellbeing and resilience? London: Young Foundation.

Billis, D. (ed.) (2010) Hybrid Organisations and the Third Sector: Challenges for Practice, Theory and Policy. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Cabinet Office (May 2010) Building the Big Society. London: Cabinet Office.

Carnegie UK Trust (2010) Making good society: Summary of the final report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland Carnegie UK Trust. Dunfermline: Carnegie Trust.

CEFET (2007) The Key to Inclusion: A report on the state and potential of Empowerment approaches to inclusion work in the English Regions. Nottingham: CEFET.

Chanan, G. and Miller, C. (2010) The Big Society: How it Could Work. A positive idea at risk from caricature. PACES.

Chapman, T., Robinson, F., Brown, J., Shaw, S., Ford, C., Bailey, E. and Crow, R. (2009) A mosaic, jigsaw or abstract? Getting a big picture perspective on the Third Sector in North East England and Cumbria. Newcastle upon Tyne: Northern Rock Foundation.

Clark, J., Kane, D., Wilding, K. and Wilton, J. (2010) The UK Civil Society Almanac. London: NCVO.

Communities and Local Government (2006) The Community Development Challenge. London: CLG.

Communities and Local Government (2007) Making Assets Work; The Quirk Review of community management and ownership of public assets. London: CLG.

Communities and Local Government (2008) Participatory Budgeting: a draft national strategy. Giving more people a say in local spending: Consultation London: CLG.

Communities and Local Government (2010) 2008-09 Citizenship Survey: Volunteering and Charitable Giving Topic report. London: CLG.

Community Research Centre (2010) Under the radar: a study of voluntary and community organisations not on the business or charities register. Birmingham: Regional Action West Midlands.

Community Sector Coalition (undated) Unseen, Unequal, Untapped, Unleashed: The potential for community action at the grass roots. London: CSC.

Conservative Party (2008) A Stronger Society: Voluntary Action in the 21st Century. Policy Green Paper No. 5, London: Conservative Party.

Conservative Party (2010) Big Society Not Big Government: Building a Big Society. London: Conservative Party.

Cooper, C. (2008) Community, Conflict and the State: Rethinking Notions of ‘Safety’, ‘Cohesion’ and ‘Wellbeing’. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Coote, A. (2010) Ten Big Questions about the Big Society. London: New Economics Foundation.

Craig, G., Burdchard, T. and Gordon, D. (2008) Social Justice and Public Policy: seeking fairness in diverse societies. Bristol: Policy Press.

Davis Smith, J. (1998) 1997 National Survey of Volunteering. London: Home Office.

Della Porta, D. and Diani, M. (1999) Social Movements: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Department for Business Innovation and Skills (2010) Evaluation of Community Development Finance Initiatives (CDFIs). London: BIS.

Department for Communities and Local Government and the Third Sector Partnership Board Task and Finish Group on Deprived Neighbourhoods (June 2010a) The Big Society the role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Deprived Neighbourhoods: Discussion Paper. London: DCLG.

Department for Communities and Local Government and the Third Sector Partnership Board Task and Finish Group on Deprived Neighbourhoods (June 2010b) The Big Society: The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Deprived Neighbourhoods: Executive Summary. London: DCLG.

Freedom House (2005) Freedom in the World 2005: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield.

Field, J. (2003) Social Capital. London: Routledge.

Freire, P. (1970) Pedagogy of the Oppressed London: Penguin.

Gramsci, A. (1929) (ed. G. Hoare and G. Nowell Smith, 1971) Selections from the Prison Notebooks. London: Lawrence & Wishart.

Green, D. (1996) Community Without Politics: A market approach to welfare reform: Choices in Welfare Series 2.7. London: Civitas.

Henderson, P. and Vercseg, I. (2010) Community Development and Civil Society: Making connections in the European context. Bristol: Policy Press.

HM Government (2009) Building Britain’s Future London: HMG.

HM Government (2010a) The Coalition: our programme for government. London: HM Government.

HM Government (2010b) Building a Stronger Civil Society: A strategy for voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises. London: HM Government.

Hoggett. P. (ed.) (1997) Contested Communities: experiences, struggles, policies. Bristol: Policy Press.

Home Office, (1998), Compact on Relations between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in England, Cm. 4100, London: Stationery Office.

Hope, A., and Timmel, S. (1984) Training for Transformation: A Handbook for Community Workers. Harare, Zimbabwe: Mambo Press.

Ipsos MORI (2009) National Survey of Third Sector Organisations. London: Cabinet Office, Office of the Third Sector.

Ipsos MORI (2010) Local Surveys of Unregistered TSOs. London: Ipsos MORI.

Jordan, B. (2010) Why the Third Way Failed: Economics, morality and the origins of ‘Big Society’ Bristol: Policy Press.

Kane, D., Clark, J., Lesniewski, S., Wilton, J., Pratten, B. and Wilding, K. (2009) The UK Civil Society Almanac. London: NCVO.

Ledwith, M. (2005) Community Development: a critical approach. Bristol: Policy Press.

Locke, M. (2008) Who gives time now. Patterns of participation in volunteering. London: Institute for Volunteering Research.

MacGillivray, A. Conaty, P. Wadhams, C. (2001) Low flying heroes. Micro social enterprise below the radar screen. London: New Economics Foundation.

McCabe, A., Phillimore, J. and Mayblin, L. (2010) ‘Below the Radar’ activities and organisations in the third sector: a review of the literature. Birmingham: Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham.

McCabe, A. and Wilson M. (forthcoming) Communities, Globalisation and the Politics of Fear: Community Development Journal Global Symposium 2009. Community Development Journal.

McCrae, A. and Nowak, I. (2010) Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator: A short study of resilience in Scottish Charities. Glasgow: Axiom Consultancy.

Ministry of Justice/Hansard Society (2009) Audit of Political Engagement 6. London: Ministry of Justice /Hansard Society.

Minkler, M. (2005) Community Organising and Community Building for Health. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

National Audit Office (2009) Building the Capacity of the Third Sector. London: NAO.

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (2010) We believe in a good society. What do you believe in? NCVO’s manifesto for the voluntary and community sector. London: NCVO.

Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (2002) The “Learning Curve”- Developing Skills and Knowledge for Neighbourhood Renewal. London: Cabinet Office.

Office of the Third Sector (2008) Draft Guidance: National Survey of Third Sector Organisations ‘Under the Radar’ Pilot. London: Office of the Third Sector.

Office of the Third Sector (2010) Thriving Third Sector: Creating an environment in which charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises can thrive. London: Office of the Third Sector.

Oppenheim, C., Cox, E. and Platt, R. (2010) Regeneration through co-operation: Creating a framework for communities to act together. Manchester: Co-operatives UK.
Pathways Through Participation (2010) Briefing Paper No 3 Who Participates? London: NCVO.

Pearce, J., Howard, J. and Bronstein, A. (2010) Learning from Latin America: Editorial: Community Development Journal Special Issue: Learning from Latin America – Organising for Social Transformation. Vol. 45, No 3.

Phillimore, J. and McCabe, A. with Soteri-Proctor, A. and Taylor, R. (2010) Understanding the distinctiveness of small scale, third sector activity: the role of local knowledge and networks in shaping below the radar actions. Birmingham: Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham.

[The] Power Report (2006) Power to the People: The Report of Power: An independent inquiry into Britain’s democracy. York: York Publishing.

Putnam, R. (2000) Bowling Alone: The collapse and revival of American community. New York: Simon and Schuster.
[The] Quirk Review (2007) Making Assets Work. London: CLG.

Rawls, J. (1971) A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

Rochester, C., Paine, A. and Howlett, S. (2009) Volunteering and Society in the 21st Century. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Rogers, E. and Robinson, B. (2004) The benefits of community engagement: A review of the evidence. London: Home Office.

Rowson, J., Broome, S. and Jones, A. (2010) Connected Communities: How social networks power and sustain the Big Society. London: RSA.

Sampson, A. and Weaver, M. (2010) Community Anchors: securing their position rising East Essays Vol. 2. Series 1, London: University of East London.

Smith, G. (2005) Power Beyond the Ballot: 57 Democratic Innovations from Around the World. London: The POWER Inquiry.

Smith. M. and McCabe, A. (2009) Building Virtual Communities in Harris, V. (ed.) The Community Work Skills Manual. Sheffield: Federation for Community Development Learning.

Tam, H. (2010) Against Power Inequalities. London: Birbeck Publications.

Toepler, S. (2003) Grassroots Associations versus Larger Nonprofits: New Evidence from a Community Case Study in Arts and Culture, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Vol.32, No.2, 236-251.

Thompson, J. (2008) Under the radar. A survey of small voluntary and community sector organisations working with children, young people and families. London: NCVCCO.

Whelan, R (1997) The Corrosion of Charity: From Moral Revival to Contract Culture: Choices in Welfare Series 29. London: Institute of Economic Affairs.

Wilkinson, R. and Pickett, K. (2009) The Spirit Level: Why more equal societies almost always do better. London: Penguin.

Yorkshire and Humberside Empowerment Partnership (2009) Making the Case for Participation. Sheffield: COGS.

Date:December 2010
Series/Collection Name:TSRC Working Paper Series
Keywords:Big Society, empowerment, community engagement, social action, community groups, below the radar.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Related URLs:
URLURL Type
http://www.tsrc.ac.ukOrganisation
Funders:Economic and Social Science Research Council, Office for Civil Society, Barrow Cadbury Trust
ID Code:787

Export Reference As : ASCII + BibTeX + Dublin Core + EndNote + HTML + METS + MODS + OpenURL Object + Reference Manager + Refer + RefWorks
Share this item :
QR Code for this page

Repository Staff Only: item control page