Do you remember David Cameron’s Big Society? An eye-catching initiative from the 2010 Conservative manifesto, it formed a central part of the subsequent coalition Government’s policy agenda, and its stated purpose was “to generate, develop and showcase new ideas to help people to come together in their neighbourhoods to do good things”.

And who could argue with that: the perfect expression of an aspiration at Westminster to empower local communities, encourage volunteerism, and support social enterprises? It’s what governments are mandated to do, is it not? Come up with big ideas that give people the power to transform their day-to-day lives.

In a speech launching the Big Society in 2010 , Cameron said: “It’s my hope – and my mission – that when people look back at this five, 10-year p

See Full Page