Community Impact Bucks is the independent charity which provides comprehensive support services to other charities, community groups, social enterprises and rural organisations throughout Buckinghamshire. It is also the Volunteer Centre for Buckinghamshire, helping members of the public to get involved in community activity. How can we help you today?

slideshow images
I want to know what is going on in my community

Recent News Involving the Big Society

Cabinet Office Big Society Updates

Tue 05/07/2011

1. Forthcoming Open Public Services White Paper - The Cabinet Office Open Public Services Team are keen to circulate the Open Public Services consultation to individuals and organisations in the public, VCS and private sectors and would welcome details of interested parties being provided to them.

2. Local Authorities/Public Service providers - National Programme for Commissioning  - Nick Hurd MP, Minister for the Civil Society is keen to engage with commissioners about what kind of programme would help to improve commissioning at a local level. Are you interested in engaging in this discussion and have suggestions on the content of an effective programme for commissioning? Please indicate your interest in the National Programme for Commissioning by replying to this email.

3. Community Development Foundation to deliver the £80m Community First programme - Following a competitive bid process the Community Development Foundation (CDF) has been chosen by the Government to deliver the Community First programme.  The Community First programme will help communities come together through new and existing community groups, to identify their strengths and local priorities, plan for their future and become more resilient.  Community First includes a £30m small grant programme for some of the most deprived areas in the country and a national £50m endowment match challenge. A link to the related cabinent office website can be found here.

More information is also available on the Community Development Foundation website here. 

4. The National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises 2010 Results Published - This national survey gathers the views of the leaders of charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations in England. These organisations go by many names, and many also consider themselves to be community groups, co-operatives or mutuals, a club or society, or a non-profit organisation, housing association, faith group or trust.

The survey was first carried out in Autumn/Winter 2008 as the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations. The second wave of this survey took place Autumn/Winter 2010. The title of the survey was simplified to the National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises.

More information on the 2010 survey results can be found here.

5. IT Grants for UK Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Communities  - I've been asked to circulate this information, which you may find useful.  Funders offering up to £10,000 Grants for the Development of Charity's IT Requirements.  The funds cover PC's, WebSite Development, training, software and any capital items you may require. Restriction of one application per year. Typical projects that have been awarded include community re-generation/enrichment, community activities and those groups which involve their community in learning new skills.

Applications are on a first come first served basis with a decision time of around one month.

More information can be found here.



Project on ‘Big Society in action in Buckinghamshire

My name is Stefan Briault and I am a student studying Sociology at Southampton University and going into my third year in September. Currently I am doing a work placement at Bucks County Council, working on a project to gather examples of the ‘Big Society' in action across the county.

The reason behind the project is to showcase what Buckinghamshire residents have done to solve issues or run services and to encourage more of the community to get involved in this type of activity. We feel that by providing people with online information on the ‘Big Society' activity taking place locally, residents will know there are possibilities for community led action to solve issues or run the service.

After some research we will put examples of the ‘Big Society' in action on the ‘Big Society' section of the Knowing Bucks website supported by the Bucks Strategic Partnership which is open to all partners and members of the public. Click here for more information.

Although Buckinghamshire has a greater number of charities per head of the population than the average ratio for the UK (1 charity for 190 people in Bucks compared to national average which is 1 charity for 380 people). The Bucks Strategic Partnership still feels that more could be done and hopefully my webpage can support and develop ‘Big Society' activity across the county.

If anyone wishes to contact me or notify me of other great examples of ‘Big Society' in action then please do so by August 8th my details are below:

Policy, Performance and Communications
Buckinghamshire County Council
Old County Offices
Walton Street
Aylesbury
HP20 1UA 
Tel: 01296 387963 
Email Stefan