Big Society and churches
Peter Lynas sees opportunities for churches and other faith groups in the Big Society, and the potential for building better relationships all round.
The Big Society is not a new idea. In fact, David Cameron caused outrage when he claimed that Jesus founded his Big Society crusade.
Part of the difficulty with the Big Society is that different people mean different things when they refer to it. Lord Wei, the former Big Society advisor, said it “is based on an unshakeable belief that people, when equipped with the right resources, can achieve more than central government.” Others describe it as a fig leaf for cuts. It was perhaps best described as something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
The fear is that the Big Society is a nice way of getting the voluntary sector to replace services that are being cut. Budget cuts are inevitable, especially here in Northern Ireland. As the state is forced to recede, who will fill the void left behind?
David Cameron described the Big Society as “the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power from the elites in Whitehall to the man and woman on the street.” But the average person may not want or be ready for the power and responsibility they are about to receive. Instead, mediating institutions, such as churches, charities, families and neighbourhoods, are best placed to occupy the space between the individual and the state.
Churches and faith-based organisations have the largest capacity to fill this growing gap, with 45 per cent of people regularly attending church and the average evangelical volunteering two hours each week. This equates to over 50 million volunteer hours each year in Northern Ireland.
More than two-thirds of all youth work is being delivered by churches or faith groups and the Salvation Army is the single largest provider of accommodation for the homeless in the UK and Ireland.
Faith in Policing, a local initiative driven by the Chief Constable, wants local Christians trained to head out on the streets at evenings and weekends to chat and help people because when ‘street pastors’ were deployed on the streets of Leicester, crime fell by 43 per cent. St Giles Trust won a contract from the Ministry of Justice to cut re-offending in part because research showed that the Government saved £10 for every £1 invested. Christians Against Poverty manages over £1 million of personal debt through just one of its centres in Northern Ireland. Churches and faith groups have always stood in that gap and must continue to do so.
Another issue remains: if the Big Society is the means, what is the end? The Big Society will only be viewed as a success if poverty is reduced and equality and justice are improved. In short, the Big Society agenda must lead to a more relational society. It is in relationships that people find their identity and recognise their well-being. The essential building blocks of a good society are good relationships, from family and community to public services and business.
Motivated by love of neighbour, churches and faith groups are committed to helping create a society that prioritises relational values and protects the vulnerable and those facing prejudice, of whatever form. Rights and freedoms flourish most clearly in an environment where a focus on the responsibilities intrinsic to successful relationships exists.
The social and economic recession we now face requires us to broaden the concept of prosperity and put good relationships at the heart of the political agenda. Churches, charities and families operate in the growing space between the individual and the state. These mediating institutions are working hard to mend the hole in the social ozone layer and are key to bringing about lasting peace and true prosperity in Northern Ireland.
It is essential that the new Programme for Government incorporates the views of churches and faith groups. It must ensure they are given the space and resources to function effectively, and are consulted regularly. Without their contribution, the budget cuts would be significantly more painful for many. At the same time, government should not be allowed to sidestep its responsibilities by passing them to third sector organisations.
Peter Lynas is the Northern Ireland Director of the Evangelical Alliance.
