Big Society Question Time at the Political Conferences - by Sam Dowling

The Government has made it clear that it wants charities, community groups and social enterprises to deliver more public services but with the Comprehensive Spending Review just over the horizon on 20 October, speculation is rife about how any cuts or policy changes might impact on charities, community organisations and social enterprises.

There is concern that those who rely on the services of civil society organisations will suffer if the local commissioning environment does not adapt to recognise the value that they bring not only financially, but in improving the lives of the people that they work with and the communities that they serve.

Charities and social enterprises are delivering contracts as diverse as reducing reoffending, improving health outcomes and employment creation. But the question is, will the Big Society mean they can do even more, or be faced with new challenges?

For three weeks this September/ October political insiders will gather at this autumn’s annual political party conferences in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham and plan their policies for the year ahead, and we are keen that social investment is a part of those discussions.  

We will be working with the Royal Society of the Arts, MORI and ResPublica policy think tank to explore each party’s perspective on the Big Society and put politicians on the spot.  At each of the conferences we will have front bench politicians on our panel, along with Chief Executive of The Social Investment Business Jonathan Lewis, taking questions from the audience.  

The real challenge at this time of economic constraint is how to square the circle of increased delivery by sector organisations against reduced public sector investment. This is at the heart of the Big Society.

You can sign up to attend by emailing policy@thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org or via our facebook page.