Bishop claims 'Big Society' not big enough

The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham will call on people to make a bigger commitment to the homeless and needy, today (Saturday, 2nd April 2011), when he speaks at a special service in Southwell Minster to celebrate the work of the county’s largest homeless charity – Framework.
 
Calling for a fresh commitment to the vulnerable, the Rt Revd Paul Butler says: “The issue I have with the Big Society is that it is not coming across as Big Enough. In our commitment to the homeless and the needy, in our longing for adequate housing for all, we need to keep the vision high.....We all fear too that recent discussions at national and local level may well make the need for Framework’s work more likely in the coming months, whilst having to respond on reduced resources. This likely scenario must make us all look at how we can respond with fresh creative eyes. How we can work not only more smartly but differently. “
 
Framework’s mission is to nurture opportunity and choice for homeless and vulnerable people through the provision of high quality housing, support, prevention, care, training and employment. Based in Nottingham, Framework runs over 60 services across Nottinghamshire and more widely across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, opening doors to around 7,000 people each year.
 
Funds collected at the service will go to support Framework’s emergency appeal to raise £40,000 to respond to a rise in levels of rough sleeping and its associated problems as a result of funding cuts. 
 
The service will bring together supporters, staff and those who have been helped by the charity in the past months and years.