There can be little doubt that these are relatively tough times in the UK, and the minds of many are focussed on how best to make progress when it feels like\u00a0everything\u00a0is being cut.<\/p>\n
But most of those who are thinking about it are the professionals, who control budgets for the\u00a0delivery\u00a0of services or\u00a0front-line service providers trying to figure out how to stop things getting dangerous as they are stretched further and further. \u00a0The assumption is that the job remains to be done, that they are the ones to do it, and they need to figure what they are going to do to make the best adjustments that they can.<\/p>\n
But supposing they took a different tack? \u00a0Suppose they invited citizens in to explore the challenges that they face and how they might be met, how ordinary citizens might be able to use their\u00a0resources, time, knowledge, skills and sometimes perhaps cash, to help?<\/p>\n
So, for example, we might<\/p>\n
What might happen if we asked local people to step up and see what they might be able to do about other issues facing them, their loved ones and their neighbours like:<\/p>\n
Or \u00a0we can just bundle these issues up into performance related contracts, attach our 56 pages of terms and conditions, develop it into a multi-million pound contract and pump it through the procurement process?<\/p>\n
How might this work out at a\u00a0local\u00a0level?<\/p>\n
I watched a community psychiatric nurse, working with a third sector service provider, planning home help for an\u00a0elderly\u00a0gentleman in the\u00a0early\u00a0stages of dementia. \u00a0He needed help with a weekly shop, food preparation and encouragement to take his medication. \u00a0Essentially they agreed a piece of business for the third sector to provide this basic support, paid for out of public finance. \u00a0There was no discussion of the role of neighbours in helping out. \u00a0No exploration about whether they might be able to manage a weekly shop between them, or set up a meal rota, or ensure a daily visit.<\/p>\n
Now I don’t think this was a rare one-off. \u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0our neighbourhoods are awash with opportunities for\u00a0local\u00a0people to engage with each other, to help and be helped, and to learn how to make a real difference to the big and small issues that beset us.<\/p>\n
I am not saying that we don’t need specialist public services, of course we do. \u00a0But we will have to learn to do the basics for\u00a0ourselves\u00a0if\u00a0we\u00a0want\u00a0to make progress.<\/p>\n
The challenge is how can the funders possibly engage with a civic group that helps it to do something quite remarkable. \u00a0Because standard forms of procurement and project management are hardly conducive.<\/p>\n
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