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Welcome. The Big Society: the big debate for Oxfordshire. What a difference a year makes!. Alison Baxter OCVA. What has OSCA achieved?. Robust cross-sector partnership Election process for representatives on other partnerships
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Welcome The Big Society: the big debate for Oxfordshire
What a difference a year makes! Alison Baxter OCVA
What has OSCA achieved? • Robust cross-sector partnership • Election process for representatives on other partnerships • Funding advice and development support to meet the needs of front line groups • Increasing number of communities involved in producing community-led plans • Significant increase in the number of potential volunteers and volunteering opportunities
What has OSCA achieved? • Forum events with a total attendance of around 350 groups • ‘Building Better Neighbourhoods, the contribution to community life by faith groups in Oxfordshire’ published June 2010 • Compact Equalities and Diversity code published • Equalities forum still not in place
What has changed? • Overall cuts to local government of at least 26% over 4 years • Migration Impacts Project cut mid-year • No more Local Area Agreement targets – or reward • Place Survey won’t be repeated but MORI poll of voluntary organisations is happening again • OSCA grants pot halved in size but open for bidding
What has changed – or not? • Role of partnerships is changing • Disappearance of regions and emerging LEP • Personal budgets for health and social care • NHS reforms and move to GP commissioning • Breaking the cycle of deprivation initiative and Regeneration programme • Risk of high levels of unemployment • 10 areas in Oxford are still amongst 10% least well educated in the county
Big Society and communities • Shifts power from central government to local people and local government • More freedom and power for local councils to decide what to spend their money on • Increased transparency • ‘Right to buy’ community assets at risk of closure • ‘Right to bid’ to take over local facilities such as libraries and parks • More input to decision making (e.g. planning) • Community First Fund
Big Society and civil society • Promotes the delivery of public services by social enterprises, charities and voluntary groups • Transition Fund of £100 million (Big Lottery) • Encourages public sector workers to set up cooperatives to run services • ‘Big Society bank’ • Cuts bureaucracy and red tape • Encourages charitable giving
Big Society and volunteering • ‘Big Society day’ • National Citizens Service for young people • Encouragement for civil servants to volunteer (‘civic service’) • Training for 5,000 unpaid ‘community organisers’ – tender now open
OSCA needs to evolve • Support for voluntary organisations delivering public services • Support for community self-help and volunteering • Support for social and community enterprise • Recognition of economic value • Support for participation and ‘voice’ • Speaking up for the vulnerable
What has OSCA done? • Survey and Surviving the Cuts workshop • Preparing for Change workshop and report • Mobilising communities event and report • Human Resources conference • Procurement changes • Charity and Volunteer Awards • Transforming Adult Social Care meetings • Lobbying for recognition in LEP • Revised business plan
How can you help us to help you? • Comment on the new business plan • Respond to the Office for Civil Society consultation • Tell us what you need • Give us stories about the value of your work • Stand for election and vote for your representatives