The Big Society.

maybe I did misunderstand. Ive said enough on the subject.

I think you misunderstood the irony in grannyactivist's post, ethel.

Does she hate it?

grannyactivist was in the back of my mind when I said this. I don't have a problem is someone does voluntary work for a reason whether its experience or to meet new friend or whatever. I just find many people have become a bit more selfish since the recession

I do not know anyone who does voluntary work and hates it. Who do you know like that, Ethel?

I work as a volunteer and enjoy it, but what I get out of it is practice of my skills to 'keep my hand in', I also get to meet people, other volunteers, service users and relatives of service users. So yes I get lots out of it, I had hoped to get a paid job after some experience but that has not happened, so no probs, but I do love being of use and I cant believe some people do voluntary work and hate it and not get anything out of it.

I sometimes think that jobs such as in the nhs and government depts. which are being cut and we are told that there is no money but we have no way to check. The 'big society' may be a big con, better to have job creation so young unemployed people have a feeling of worth and are earning. Myself, I fit in my volunteering with 2 part time jobs.

When Cameron first thought of the phrase, they welcomed the input of charities. It was if he wanted to take over and get praise for what had been happening for years in this country.
Now all he and Osborne do is criticise the charities for doing what they are supposed to do, standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, help people in need, whether here or abroad.

I thought the "Big Society" was about just that - everyone thinking of other people and NOT being insular and selfish - we are all connected one to another, and our organisations and institutions should reflect that.

You have a strange juxtaposition of thoughts there, ethel, "how insular and selfish people have become" and "The country is now out of recession so let them pay"

Let who pay? "The country" is only the people of the country. Who is "they"? The taxpayers, ie, you and me?

And we are not yet out of recession, there is a slight lifting of it, that is all so far. If everyone says that everyone one else is being selfish and insular, other people ought to do more for others, and someone else ought to pay for everything, we will slide back down again PDQ

I agree grannyactivist there are plenty of people who think of others before themselves and don't ask 'what's in it for me?'.

I'm thinking of the people who volunteer in charity shops, hospices, those who run my GS's Beavers and Cubs, and so on. The list is endless.

But I do notice they tend to be older people. Perhaps that's because we have more time to give compared with those with young families. I've also come across a few unemployed people (young and older) working as volunteers and hope this gives them a step up into employment.

All this phrase (The Big Society)seems to mean in practice at the moment is the cash fund available to bid for community projects.Tthe charity for which I am a Trustee has done quite well out of this fund but I expect it will dry up soon.

Hmmm etheltbags I wonder.....what's in it for me when I visit a nursing home to sing with the residents every month, or pick litter, or teach English to refugees, or take in homeless people? Not money nor prestige, certainly no status, occasionally I do get thanks or an acknowledgement for my efforts, but I really don't think I'm being insular and selfish am I? And I live in a town where there are a plethora of other (ordinary) people who do as much as, and more than, me without expectation of getting something out of their actions other than (hopefully) a feeling of satisfaction.
It's true - some people are insular and selfish, but not many of the people I know!

I like the idea of the Big Society but the concept is in stark contrast to the actual policies that this government espouses. What we have now is a divided society where various groups of people are being set against each other.

Despite this, I think most people - on an individual basis - are basically decent and help one another when the need arises. When I'm feeling particularly down about the way things are going, I'm cheered to find the page in the Metro free newspaper where numerous people recount their experience of strangers going out of their way to help them in difficult situations.

Priceless

Ana

Actually getting the odd laugh or two out of GN this evening. What's happening?

That's obviously not the reason Ana and it would be most illogical if that's really what you meant. Clearly, I was sneering about that tiresome and overworked phrase.

Of course you do, absent. Makes it easier to tell the difference between you and absentgran!

Yes I do.

Absent you don't need to be sarky.

Anyone can look around and see how insular and selfish people have become just in the last few years, no-one will do anything without asking 'whats in it for me'.

To be fair why should people do jobs for free, isn't that what the 'big society' is about, I once offered to work for free and was told that for every volunteer someone loses a paid job, this was in the nhs, so not wanting to lose someone a job I looked elsewhere and found a voluntary job.

The country is now out of recession so let them pay for workers and create jobs and experience for workers.

"Hardworking families", surely goldengirl? Such a pity that a previous government shut down all the mines - otherwise, this one could send the children of these families down them.

Probably because we are now all 'hardworking people'

It went the same way as Milibands 'One Nation'. Didn't he pinch that anyway?