Big Society: The Good, The Bad & The Unequal

At the Midland Hotel, Bradford, today for Big Society: The Good,The Bad & The Unequal. This national conference is hosted by JUSTWest Yorkshire and is jointly sponsored by them, Runnymede Trust, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

We're welcomed by Ratna Lachman, Chief Exec of JUST West Yorkshire and Maureen Grant from Joseph Rowntree charitable Trust, who set the tone for the rest of the day. The conference focuses on four main areas:

• What does "fairness" mean in the context of Big Society?
• Can Big Society deliver racial justice?
• Does Big Society privilege the South over the North?
• Is Big Society a cover for big cuts?

This event also marks the publication of a new book (with the same title as the conference), to help inform discourse regarding Big Society, to interrogate Big Society agenda, particularly as it affects VCS organisations, practitioners and service users. The book provides systematic, intelligent critique, provides an alternate narrative rather than one of grudging acquiescence and makes no bones about the necessity of speaking truth to power.

There are three plenary presentations (all of which you can access, faithful reader, by clicking on the title below):

• Anna Coote (New Economics Foundation): Fairness and Equality in the Big Society
• Ed Cox (Institute of Public Policy Research): Two Geographies Divided by One Big Society
• Rob Berkeley (Runnymede Trust): The Colour of Big Society

After lunch, we also see a young people's video presentation on Big Society.

This is a very different affair from the conference I attended in London a month ago (see blog, Monday 30 January). That one was led by organisations who've obtained contracts and funding to deliver Big Society initiatives and projects, with speakers addressing many in the audience from organisations threatened by the Coalition's austerity regime - as well as by the plain and simple fact that those making decisions about development of the Voluntary and Community Sector just don't "get it". There was an undercurrent of anger and resentment at that event. It would be true to say that here, there's no undercurrent. Quite the opposite: it's more of a rallying cry. From a straw poll, I reckon I'm the only one who attended both conferences - and take it from me, there's quite a difference between the two!

Archbishop of York is best person for job

This article appears in today's Derby Telegraph:

Archbishop of York is best person for job

SO, frequent correspondent Narvel Annable thinks the Archbishop of York is out of touch with modern thinking.

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he? Narvel has never replied to my letter recently when I asked him to explain the link in genetics which caused people to be born homosexual. He didn't respond because there is no link.

Homosexuality is a choice and it is not surprising that his mother was upset by her son's way of life.

Now he has the audacity to castigate the Archbishop of York for condemning same-sex marriages. This would surely make his mother extremely ashamed of him?

I do not think it matters that the archbishop is Ugandan, neither does it matter that he was invited rather than elected into his position in the Church of England. What matters is that he is the best person for the job irrespective of race, class or creed.

Narvel may be appalled that the Archbishop is taking a stance against same-sex marriage but he is just as entitled to his opinion as Narvel is to his chosen way of life.

It is obvious that Narvel is far from comfortable with his selected lifestyle, otherwise he wouldn't spend so much time trying to justify it.

Colin Clark

Oakover Drive

Allestree

Try to judge a man by his views and not his origins

This letter appears in today's Derby Telegraph:

Try to judge a man by his views and not his origins

I have no desire to enter into debate with Narvel Annable ("Archbishop out of touch with modern thinking", Letters, February 8) because I know from his previous letters that he is unable to understand anyone who offers any view of sexual ethics which is different to his own.

I, for one, was pleased to hear Dr Sentamu's recent comments on marriage as being an institution which can only be rightly entered into by persons of the opposite sex.

Whatever arrangements might be accepted in this country to recognise gay relationships, "same sex marriage" is an oxymoron.What concerned me most about Mr Narvel's letter was his reference to Dr Sentamu as "an unelected African".

This indicates to me that his attitude to someone's origin is less liberal than his attitude to their views on sexual relationships.

I am very pleased that the Church of England has an Archbishop who not only speaks out but also does it as someone with a background very much different from that of all of his predecessors.

Please can we agree or disagree with Dr Sentamu on the basis of what he says and not on the basis of his country of origin?

Nigel Tilly

Palm Close

Littleover

Archbishop out of touch with modern thinking

This letter appears in today's Derby Telegraph:

Archbishop out of touch with modern thinking

Dr John Sentamu has condemned the Government over its plans to legalise same-sex civil marriage. As Peter Tatchell said: "The Archbishop of York's demand to preserve the tradition and history of marriage is similar to the arguments that were past used by the church to justify slavery, colonialism and the denial of votes for women. His stance brings shame and dishonour to the Church of England."

I find it appalling that, of all people, an unelected African should be telling the elected PM of this country to discriminate against gay people who wish to enter into a loving, same-sex civil marriage which is now approved by two-thirds of the population. These proposals to ensure marriage equality for all couples are for register offices only.

Dr Sentamu's recent homophobic outburst shows him intolerant and out of touch with modern thinking. Dismissing my 2006 civil partnership to Terry Durand as a mere 'friendship' is insulting to our 35- year union.

This bigoted Archbishop wants to preserve the status quo. He wants lesbians and gay men to remain inferior to the heterosexual majority.

Before advocating discrimination he would do well to reflect on the bravery of those protesters who, indirectly, made it possible for an African to become the Archbishop of York.

Narvel Annable

Dovedale Crescent

Belper

Human Rights seminar in Mansfield

At Mansfield Community & Voluntary Service this morning, delivering the third in a series of seminars for the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP) on the Human Rights Act 1998.

Strictly speaking, the part on the Human Rights Act is delivered by Chino Cabon from The Race Equality Centre (TREC), while I present a Beginners Guide to REDP.

The purpose of these seminars is to help Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations appreciate the relevance of the Human Rights Act 1998 to their mission, to understand its relationship to equality and diversity issues, as well enabling them to take part in the current debate about the UK withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights and replacing it with a new UK Bill of Rights. These topics will feature prominently in REDP's next regional event, in Derby, 22 March.

Gathered in Community House this morning are eight people, representing  four  VCS organisations and one public authority service provider (spot the out one out):

• Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service
• Disability Derbyshire Coalition for Inclusive Living
• Enable Housing, Care & Support Group
• Peak District Volunteering Advancement
• Rethink

This was a good meeting, a positive experience for (we hope) all who took part. It certainly was for Chino and me, although the fact that we got involved in a crash at the roundabout outside Glenfield Hospital on the outskirts of Leicester rather took the shine off things at the end. Ouch!