Minister for civil society Nick Hurd visited community groups in Hertfordshire yesterday  to “find out about the challenges they face”.

As well as a local community centre Hurd visited Hertfordshire Community Foundation where he met CEO David Fitzpatrick who said that local knowledge was essential to helping those in need. “This county is often perceived as being universally prosperous,” said Fitzpatrick. “Our work has highlighted that there are many areas of real need, which can only be addressed by the local knowledge we bring to bear.

“It is genuinely pleasing that the minister for civil society is able to spend time with us, seeing how we can support his wish to develop the ‘Big Society’ and be a suitable channel for funding and support into Hertfordshire,” he added.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said the visit had shown Hurd that civil society organisations in areas like Hertfordshire suffer from their overall wealth:

“The main point made to the minister was that frontline groups working in pockets of deprivation in otherwise affluent areas face particular difficulties. Too often, he was told, funding was not targeted locally enough to reach these groups. He was very impressed with the work lead by the Hertfordshire Community Foundation to overcome local problems and will consider all that he learned in future policy decisions.”

While on the trip, Hurd himself advised of the power of localism which the Big Society agenda promotes: “The Government wants to encourage a society where people do things for each other. We are giving power back to local people so that they can make a difference.

“Groups like those I've seen and heard about today have a hugely important role in our vision for a Big Society, coordinating and supporting social action. The Government wants to help charities and voluntary groups in Hertfordshire and across the country.” he added.