Last weekend was a great illustration on what is Big about Thanet. The Big Dance in Broadstairs on Sunday broke the Guinness Book of Records for getting 1000 people dancing to Abba’s Dancing Queen. Having danced myself I am wondering if I am the only MP to be in the Guinness Book of Records – all thanks to the great team that organised the event led by Fiona Crawford.
But the Big Society was also very much in action across the Isle. Both the Friends of Ellington Park and Northdown Community Project hosted their May Fayres over the weekend. While these really successful events were put on for the enjoyment of all they had an important underlying objective – to bring the community together to help support the regeneration of both Ellington Park and the Northdown Community.
And it doesn’t end there, the new community driven Visitor Information Centre in Broadstairs is set to open its doors to the public today. The Centre is the Big Society vision at its best – organised by local residents, supported by local businesses and providing an invaluable service to Thanet’s tourists.
This is social energy at its best. Far from being a political slogan, social entrepreneurs and community activists are in abundance across our Isle. But if the Big Society is to really take off, it will need the engagement of those who have no history of getting involved. So how can we spur a volunteering revolution?
This week the Prime Minister has devoted a £10 million Social Action Fund to support the most promising ideas for giving in the most deprived areas; challenge prizesof up to £100,000 are up for grabs for the best solutions to get people volunteering; and a £30 million fund to charitable organisations who can offer their expertise to more local organisations. The Big Society’s goals are ambitious and set out a positive vision for our country. Its aims transcend party politics and so I urge all of us to take a moment to ask: “What do I have to give to build a stronger community in Thanet
The Big Society? someone is having a giraffe! Just get on with life, and forget all these words that mean..'we will listen to you and then do what we want!' Thats life, if you listen to everyone you get anarchy...we need LEADERS
ReplyDeleteSometimes one reads complaints on Ramsgate blogs about Broadstairs doing more or having more flowers. The reason is because Broadstairs has a whole host of voluntary groups who organise a wide range of activities. They don't sit back and expect the council to deliver but get on and get the job done.
ReplyDeleteIt does not matter whether you call that the Big Society or not, but it is very much what society is about. People pulling together and, within each group, leaders emerge.