Big Society Network

Big Society Network
Name	Big Society Network
Formation	2010
Founders	Danny Kruger; Conservative Party allies
Dissolved	2014 (operations wound down 2018)
Headquarters	London
Region served	United Kingdom
Focus	Civic engagement; volunteering; community capacity-building

Big Society Network The Big Society Network was a UK-based charity and advocacy body associated with the Big Society agenda promoted by the Conservative Party government of David Cameron. It sought to promote volunteering, social enterprise, third sector partnerships and localism through networks, campaigns and advisory activities. The organisation became prominent in debates linked to public service reform, fiscal austerity, and the role of civil society under the coalition administration.

Overview

The organisation positioned itself at the intersection of philanthropy, volunteering, social enterprise, local government and community activism, working alongside actors such as Cabinet Office, Big Lottery Fund, National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Community Development Foundation, Nesta, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Co-operatives UK, Charity Commission for England and Wales and regional networks. It engaged with national figures including David Cameron, Nick Hurd, Francis Maude and civil servants from Number 10 while also fostering links with grassroots organisations such as Citizen's Advice, The Prince's Trust, Shelter, British Red Cross and local charities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

History and origins

The Network emerged after the 2010 general election, when the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats formed the 2010 coalition government. The Big Society concept drew inspiration from earlier debates involving New Labour, Third Way, mutualism advocates such as John Major-era community programmes and voluntary sector leaders including Lord Wei and Danny Kruger. Early support and endorsements came from figures like Cameron, George Osborne, Iain Duncan Smith and charity leaders, while policy platforms referenced works by Robert Putnam, Alexis de Tocqueville and contemporary think tanks such as Centre for Social Justice, Policy Exchange, Demos and Institute for Public Policy Research.

Structure and governance

Structured as a registered charity and company, the organisation appointed a board with trustees drawn from the voluntary sector, business and political spheres. Leadership included directors and chief executives linked to networks like Locality, Acevo, House of Commons acquaintances and corporate partners from firms engaged in corporate social responsibility such as PwC, KPMG, BT Group, Barclays and Tesco. Governance intersected with statutory bodies including the Charity Commission for England and Wales and reporting lines to ministers in the Cabinet Office and backbench MPs serving on committees such as the Public Accounts Committee.

Activities and programs

Programmatic work encompassed campaigns, volunteer recruitment drives, training for community organisers, consultancy for local councils and partnership-building with social investors and intermediaries such as Big Society Capital, Social Investment Business, Triodos Bank, Community Development Finance Association and Big Issue Invest. Initiatives included local grant-making, community awards, capacity-building workshops co-delivered with organisations like Nesta, Arts Council England, Sport England and regional agencies, as well as events held in venues including Manchester Town Hall, Guildhall and community hubs supported by trusts like Lloyds Bank Foundation and Comic Relief.

Funding and financial controversies

Funding arrived via a mix of private philanthropy, corporate sponsorship, small grants and contracts with government departments and quasi-public bodies including Cabinet Office and Big Lottery Fund. Controversies arose over the award and handling of public funds, procurement practices involving intermediaries such as A4e and consultancy links to corporate sponsors like Capita and Serco. Scrutiny by journalists from outlets including The Guardian, The Telegraph, BBC News and Channel 4 escalated to parliamentary questions tabled by MPs from Labour Party, Scottish National Party, Liberal Democrats and anti-corruption campaigners, prompting reviews by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and enquiries from select committees.

Criticism and public reception

Critics from commentators at The Guardian, scholars from Oxford University, LSE, Cambridge University and think tanks such as Spiked, New Statesman and OpenDemocracy argued the Network blurred lines between political campaigning and charitable activity, risked crowding out statutory provision, and served as a conduit for market-oriented reforms championed by ministers like Francis Maude and Michael Gove. Defenders including leaders from NCVO, Community Foundations Network and philanthropic figures argued the Network mobilised volunteers and supported community resilience, citing collaborations with FaithAction, Mind, Samaritans, Age UK and local mutual aid groups. Media coverage highlighted tensions with public-sector unions such as Unite the Union and UNISON while debates played out in forums convened by All-Party Parliamentary Groups and specialist conferences.

Legacy and impact on UK civic policy

Though the Network wound down operations amid funding and governance scrutiny, its influence persisted in institutions and initiatives like Big Society Capital, community right-to-buy reforms, localism measures in legislation and the proliferation of community interest companies (Community Interest Company), social enterprises and volunteer infrastructure organisations. Academic evaluations from University of Birmingham, University of Manchester and policy assessments by Institute for Government and National Audit Office trace continuities between the Network’s ambitions and later programmes, including social prescribing, community hubs and asset transfer schemes championed by successive administrations. The debates it catalysed continue in discussions involving devolution, metro mayors, combined authorities, and cross-sector partnerships shaping civic policy.

Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom Category:Political organisations based in the United Kingdom