The Big Society

How the Big Society agenda affects the voluntary sector, key milestones in its evolution, and reaction from sector experts. Plus, people working in voluntary organisations and local government give their views on the big society in a survey commissioned by Third Sector and Local Government Chronicle.

Comment & Interviews

The life and strange death of the big society charity

The life and strange death of the big society charity

Wednesday, 28 Jan 2015
Editorial: The big society projects that went pear-shaped

Editorial: The big society projects that went pear-shaped

By Stephen Cook, Friday, 12 Sep 2014
Editorial: We need more details on the funding of unsuccessful big society projects

Editorial: We need more details on the funding of unsuccessful big society projects

By Stephen Cook, Friday, 25 Jul 2014
Interview: Graham Benfield

Interview: Graham Benfield

Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Wally Harbert: An open letter to Nick Hurd

Wally Harbert: An open letter to Nick Hurd

By Wally Harbert, Wednesday, 23 Apr 2014
Wally Harbert: Why the major players in the sector resent the big society

Wally Harbert: Why the major players in the sector resent the big society

Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013
Editorial: Is this bye-bye to the big society?

Editorial: Is this bye-bye to the big society?

Tuesday, 11 Oct 2011
Interview: Paul Boissier

Interview: Paul Boissier

Monday, 03 Oct 2011
Interview: John Mohan

Interview: John Mohan

Tuesday, 02 Aug 2011

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The Evolution Of The Big Society

Civil Exchange says the big society has left the voluntary sector weakened

Civil Exchange says the big society has left the voluntary sector weakened

By Sam Burne James, Tuesday, 20 Jan 2015
Forget about the big society - we want a free society, says Acevo election manifesto

Forget about the big society - we want a free society, says Acevo election manifesto

By Sam Burne James, Thursday, 20 Nov 2014
National Audit Office opens new investigation into grants awarded to Big Society Network

National Audit Office opens new investigation into grants awarded to Big Society Network

By Andy Ricketts, Wednesday, 15 Oct 2014
Charity Commission report dismisses concerns about the Society Network Foundation

Charity Commission report dismisses concerns about the Society Network Foundation

By Andy Ricketts, Friday, 17 Oct 2014
Big society concept a necessary accompaniment to spending cuts, says Francis Maude

Big society concept a necessary accompaniment to spending cuts, says Francis Maude

By Sam Burne James, Wednesday, 01 Oct 2014
Society Network Foundation winding-up application put on hold by Companies House

Society Network Foundation winding-up application put on hold by Companies House

By Andy Ricketts, Thursday, 04 Sep 2014
Big Society Network charity applies to Companies House to be wound up

Big Society Network charity applies to Companies House to be wound up

By Andy Ricketts, Thursday, 21 Aug 2014
Charity that owns Big Society Network says it does not have to pay money back to Cabinet Office

Charity that owns Big Society Network says it does not have to pay money back to Cabinet Office

By Andy Ricketts, Friday, 12 Sep 2014
Big Society Network made exaggerated claims in project funding application, newspaper claims

Big Society Network made exaggerated claims in project funding application, newspaper claims

By Andy Ricketts, Wednesday, 20 Aug 2014
Magna Carta foundation involving Big Society Network director Steve Moore seeks to become a charity

Magna Carta foundation involving Big Society Network director Steve Moore seeks to become a charity

By Ian Griggs, Thursday, 07 Aug 2014
Society Network Foundation denies using political influence to secure £2m of funding

Society Network Foundation denies using political influence to secure £2m of funding

By Andy Ricketts, Friday, 01 Aug 2014
Big Society Capital launches £10m fund to help charities issue their own bonds

Big Society Capital launches £10m fund to help charities issue their own bonds

By Sam Burne James, Monday, 28 Jul 2014
Lisa Nandy tables questions in parliament over Big Society Network grants

Lisa Nandy tables questions in parliament over Big Society Network grants

By Andy Ricketts, Friday, 25 Jul 2014
National Audit Office criticises procedure for £2m grants to Big Society Network

National Audit Office criticises procedure for £2m grants to Big Society Network

By Andy Ricketts, Monday, 21 Jul 2014
Sector leaders praise former civil society minister Nick Hurd

Sector leaders praise former civil society minister Nick Hurd

By Andy Ricketts, Tuesday, 15 Jul 2014
Voluntary sector 'enslaved' by public services contracts, says report by NCIA's Andy Benson

Voluntary sector 'enslaved' by public services contracts, says report by NCIA's Andy Benson

By Sam Burne James, Tuesday, 01 Jul 2014
State of the Sector 2014: charities are disillusioned with politics and politicians

State of the Sector 2014: charities are disillusioned with politics and politicians

Friday, 27 Jun 2014
Big Society Capital puts £1m into share underwriting scheme

Big Society Capital puts £1m into share underwriting scheme

By Sam Burne James, Tuesday, 24 Jun 2014
Growth of sector will come at its fringes, Karl Wilding tells NCVO conference

Growth of sector will come at its fringes, Karl Wilding tells NCVO conference

By Sam Burne James, Tuesday, 17 Jun 2014
Labour Party asks the sector for views on Charity Commission priorities

Labour Party asks the sector for views on Charity Commission priorities

By Sam Burne James, Friday, 20 Jun 2014
Nick Hurd indicates government has abandoned pledge for annual big society day

Nick Hurd indicates government has abandoned pledge for annual big society day

By Andy Ricketts, Wednesday, 26 Mar 2014
Nick Hurd affirms government's commitment to 'big society vision'

Nick Hurd affirms government's commitment to 'big society vision'

By Andy Ricketts, Wednesday, 12 Oct 2011
Sector 'views big society with distrust, but also as an opportunity to engage government'

Sector 'views big society with distrust, but also as an opportunity to engage government'

By David Ainsworth, Tuesday, 29 Jan 2013
We are proud of what we've achieved in two years, says Minister for Civil Society

We are proud of what we've achieved in two years, says Minister for Civil Society

By Andy Ricketts, Wednesday, 09 Jan 2013
Big society is 'effectively dead', Sir Stephen Bubb tells PM

Big society is 'effectively dead', Sir Stephen Bubb tells PM

By Kate Youde, Monday, 07 Jan 2013
Interview: Nick Hurd

Interview: Nick Hurd

Tuesday, 27 Sep 2011
Analysis: Big society adviser decides to move on

Analysis: Big society adviser decides to move on

By Kaye Wiggins, Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Cameron renews big society vows

Cameron renews big society vows

By Sophie Hudson, Monday, 23 May 2011
Banks missed 'historic opportunity' to support voluntary sector

Banks missed 'historic opportunity' to support voluntary sector

By Kaye Wiggins, Monday, 16 May 2011
Most think the big society will not be achieved, poll suggests

Most think the big society will not be achieved, poll suggests

By Sophie Hudson, Thursday, 14 Apr 2011
Liverpool City Council quits big society vanguard

Liverpool City Council quits big society vanguard

By Kate Youde, Thursday, 03 Feb 2011
Analysis: Big society under pressure

Analysis: Big society under pressure

By Kaye Wiggins, Monday, 31 Jan 2011
Big society idea 'divides the Cabinet and is loathed by the public'

Big society idea 'divides the Cabinet and is loathed by the public'

By Kaye Wiggins, Tuesday, 25 Jan 2011
Great and the good line up to keep tabs on big society

Great and the good line up to keep tabs on big society

By Kaye Wiggins, Tuesday, 07 Dec 2010
Big society will be broken by spending cuts, says think tank report

Big society will be broken by spending cuts, says think tank report

By John Plummer, Wednesday, 03 Nov 2010
Analysis: Big society is the hot topic at the Conservative Party conference

Analysis: Big society is the hot topic at the Conservative Party conference

By Kaye Wiggins, Monday, 11 Oct 2010
Poll shows less than half of charities have faith in Cameron's big society

Poll shows less than half of charities have faith in Cameron's big society

By David Ainsworth, Wednesday, 29 Sep 2010
Building the big society will be 'arduous and filled with setbacks', warns Lord Wei

Building the big society will be 'arduous and filled with setbacks', warns Lord Wei

By Kate Youde, Thursday, 17 Jun 2010
Coalition outlines plans for big society programme

Coalition outlines plans for big society programme

By Kaye Wiggins, Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Charities will run state services under Tories, says Cameron

Charities will run state services under Tories, says Cameron

By Paul Jump, Wednesday, 11 Nov 2009

The Big Society Survey

All you need to know about...

Fundraising in crisis
Kids Company closure
Change at the Charity Commission
The lobbying act
The collapse of BeatBullying
Islamic Charities
The Big Society
Chief Executive Pay
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Charity property: could you be entitled to a huge VAT saving?

Charity property: could you be entitled to a huge VAT saving?

By Kevin Hall, Tuesday, 19 Feb 2019 Partner Content: Presented By Markel

When a property is being constructed, VAT is charged at the standard rate. But if you're a charity, health body, educational institution, housing association or finance house, the work may well fall into a category that justifies zero-rating - and you could make a massive saving

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