Communities must pay to join Big Society Network

The new Big Society Network has been set up to support neighbourhood projects and the 'Big Society' agenda as a whole. It now appears however that the support network will only be open to those who are willing or able to pay a membership fee...

via Gemma Hampson socialenterpriselive.com

Members of the community will have to pay to be part of the Big Society Network and receive support for their neighbourhood projects.

The network, launched by prime minister David Cameron at Downing Street earlier this month, aims to become the 'largest mutual in the UK' and will be a support mechanism for communities setting up new organisations, groups and initiatives with possible funding available.

However, there is no plan in place to encourage these initiatives to become sustainable social enterprises. Instead, the network will respond to community requests and may act if they see a trend. There is no plan, as yet, to help those on low incomes access the support of the network.

The network's director of engagement, Steve Moore, said: 'People will have to pay to be a member of the network, but we don't know how much yet. It may be possible to have something to help people on a low income.'

Moore said the network was currently putting together a business plan but had no set agenda on how it would evolve.

Between £250,000 and £1m is needed to initially fund the network, registered as a company limited by guarantee, which would come from private investment, foundation trusts and donations. The network is already in talks with 'big business and big brands' for support, but Moore would not name them.

There are also plans to form a co-operative and community benefit society (formally an industrial and provident society).

Moore told Social Enterprise magazine that the network was similar to the government's Big Society agenda in that it would respond to the community, not tell it what to do.

'The government doesn't have blueprints. What it's not doing is spending a huge amount of time building strategic plans. It may be high risk, but that's how they want to run it,' he said.

'I'm aware of the role social enterprises can play and if social enterprise is a common theme in the network then we will respond to that. If the communities want to form a neighbourhood group, then that's fine too. We're relaxed about it. I'm not going to say they have to be social enterprises. An enterprise does not have to wait for government.'

He added that a narrow definition of social enterprise 'belongs in another age'.

One of the first ideas being developed by the network is a Big Society app for mobile phones, providing information and linking people. Other ways of using technology are also high on the agenda.

The network is planning a 12-stop tour of the UK from September to December. Phase one of the network, which will include member benefits, aims to launch in December.

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