Still struggling with the big society? How about now?

Last night Portsmouth City Council hosted a Viewpoint event entitled ‘Still Struggling with the Big Society’.  We had a great discussion around people’s perception of what the Big Society means and how it will affect Portsmouth. 

Three speakers shared their views on the history, viability and progress so far of the Big Society concept.  These talks generated debate around accountability and accessibility of the policy and whether it can apply in the same way across the country. 

Still struggling with the big society?

Where are we? and what is it now?

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Date: 21^st September

Location: The View café, 5^th Floor, Civic Offices, Portsmouth

This first event is designed to generate discussion, questions and debate around where we are with the big society and it’s progress in Portsmouth. 

• What potential obstacles are there in progressing this agenda at the local level?
• What do we still need to know about the big society?
• A broken society? How do recent events inform this agenda? 

Attendees will need to register for the event through Eventbrite

Big Society Podcast now available

If you attended our "Big Society" event early in December 2010 you will recall that Francis Davis of The Young Foundation gave us a great presentation on how "BIG" it is and how we might approach the agenda here in Portsmouth. Well if you missed that or want to digest some of his argument a little further, we now have the podcast from the session uploaded. You can listen here.

You might also be interested in a recent BBC Radio 4 programme "Beyond Westminster" covering the subject. Available on i-player at this link.

We are currently planning follow up sessions and are keen to take suggestion for topics, themes and formats.

Happy listening!

BIG unequal?

Our man on the scene said...

"Points for and against the Big Society initiative were keenly argued by academic staff from the University of Portsmouth in a public debate held on Monday. (October 15)

The Oxford Union-style debate was on the motion: “This house believes that the Big Society initiative will lead to a more unequal society.”

Professor Dan Finn and David Carpenter spoke for the motion, while Dr Paul McVeigh and Dr Nancy North spoke against it.

Before the start of the debate 55 of those attending indicated they were for the motion and 25 indicated they were against it.

Following the debate, and comments from the floor, a concluding vote showed that 65 were for the motion and 32 against.

The debate, which was held at a lecture theatre in the university’s St Michael’s Building, attracted a large audience and is one of a number of events organised for Portsmouth Local Democracy Week 2010."

So what did you think?