Cameron’s Big Society ‘Must Include Disabled People’

Prime Minister David Cameron has launched his ‘big society’ drive to empower communities, and enable groups to run post offices, libraries, transport services and shape housing projects.

Voluntary groups and Labour have already queried how this ‘big advance for people power’ will be funded.

According to the Prime Minister, the initiative – a central theme in the Conservative’s general election campaign – is about giving individuals and communities more control over their destinies and was something that had ‘underpinned his philosophy’ since he became Conservative leader in 2005.

Initial initiatives being championed in four areas of England include a local buy-out of a rural pub, efforts to recruit volunteers to keep museums open, support to speed up broadband supply, and giving residents more power over council spending.

The Chief Executive of disability charity Scope, Richard Hawkes, said: “The Big Society presents some real opportunities for disabled people to have more influence in their communities.

“However, it is important disabled people get the right support to participate in local decision-making – for example ensuring council meetings are fully accessible to people with communication impairments. Otherwise, only those with the loudest voices in their community will be heard,” he added.

“Also, in light of the current squeeze to the public purse there is a risk the Big Society approach could go too far,” he said. “There will be some services that it would be highly inappropriate to assign to volunteers, who do not have the necessary training or specialist qualifications.”