Andy McSmith writes:
The
Big Society that David Cameron once described as his “passion” is a “sham”,
which is hurting small charities increasingly having to work with powerful
corporations in running services, campaigners have said.
Two new reports paint a grim picture of the fate
of local voluntary groups in the market being created by the contracting out of
public services.
Where charities once worked alongside government officials,
many now have to answer to private companies that have taken over functions
once run by the state.
The National Coalition of Independent Action claims two
studies found the farming out of public services is effectively turning some
charities into sub-contractors for private firms.
Its founder Andy Benson argued the policy of encouraging
competition had made charities “more self-interested and less likely to work
collectively”.
He claimed volunteers were less willing to speak up where they
encounter mismanagement, in case they lose a contract.
In one instance, a
voluntary sector worker who criticised a council for not following its own
policy on domestic violence was told by a council official: “Do you want
funding for next year? Then I suggest you shut up.”
Mr Benson said:
“Despite protestations by the Government
that it is interested in small-scale activity, which is the essence of the Big
Society, the small amounts of money that could make all the difference are
drying up at a hugely alarming rate. The Big Society is a sham. It’s a slogan.”
A Cabinet Office spokesman said:
“Over the past few years
we have supported a bigger, stronger society. More people are volunteering.
Charities have more powers and say over public services, and we are seeing more
community organisers. On top of this, more than £600m has been set aside for
Big Society Capital, the first social investment fund of its kind in the
world.”
This Government has form here. It tried to change the tax system so as to close down the charitable sector more or less entirely.
That, the similar attack on churches, Royal Mail privatisation, toll roads, the end of all remaining controls on Sunday trading, and much more besides: this Government is the enemy of Tory Britain.
This Government has form here. It tried to change the tax system so as to close down the charitable sector more or less entirely.
That, the similar attack on churches, Royal Mail privatisation, toll roads, the end of all remaining controls on Sunday trading, and much more besides: this Government is the enemy of Tory Britain.
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