Peter Lyne's excitement at the Big Society agenda has turned to dismay as contracts drip through for the big fish, and leave the minnows drowning without funding.
On hearing of the Big Society, I had originally considered that the concept and aims were to bring together charitable organisations (both large and small) to address a wide range of issues faced by society and to tackle them in the most effective manner. As national vice president of the Disabled Motorists Federation, a small charity in the scale of things, I was excited by the planting of this seed in society.
But as the seedling has developed, joy has become doubt, and I'm becoming aware that the Big Society is likely to comprise of a very few big fish, revelling in a big pond of cash.
All charities both large and small depend on funding to allow them to continue with the specific issues they address. However, the lion's share of funding for organisations working within the Big Society has so far gone to a select few major charitable organisations, with the budgets to make themselves known.
It seems to go against the very ethos of a Big Society. Surely, the true members of the Big Society' are the thousands of volunteers who keep their specific organisations going to help address the numerous and varied issues within their communities and regions?
Instead of tapping into and furthering the potential of this immense resource, millions of pounds of funding are being provided to charities with questionable pay scales, and a budget for bragging rights.
What must not be forgotten is that within the 'big pond' are thousands of 'minnows' who work deeply within their communities or regions, largely on a voluntary basis. Regrettably they remain overlooked for regional/national development grants or financial rewards to help them to not only survive in the future, but to continue with the work for which they were established.
My own organisation has in the past undertaken consultative work on behalf of central and local government departments, (predominantly on issues relating to improvements in national healthcare services and accessible rail travel for disabled individuals), for which it has never received any financial support. I am certain that it is not the only charity throughout the UK to have done so for a range of social issues.
When will smaller organisations who play an active role within the Big Society be appreciated for their efforts?
Peter Lyne is national vice president of the Disabled Motorists Federation
