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For me, the message loud and clear from this week has been that in these tough economic times, it is more important than ever that we as politicians - whether in central government or local councils - listen more to people's views.

So when I attended the Local Government Information Unit (external link) on Wednesday 6 May, I was interested to hear how, in some cases, listening to local people more has saved councils money. For example, when Camden Council wanted to see how accessible their services were for disabled people, they didn't employ expensive consultants - they simply asked local disabled people for their views.

During this recession, as councils are looking to make £600million extra efficiency savings to invest in local services or keep council tax down, initiatives like this make all the difference.

Later that day, I met with my panel of youth advisers, where the challenge of climate change was the hot to topic of discussion. The panel had some brilliant ideas about how to persuade young people to reduce their energy use and live greener lifestyles - from using storylines in soaps and children’s TV programmes to showing images of the extreme effects of climate change. Talking to the panel made it really clear to me that young people are often the best at being green and using less energy (external link), and their example can be an inspiration to all of us to change our habits of a lifetime.

I'm pleased that the G20 finance ministers pledged to make a sustained effort to beat the recession when they met in Sussex on Saturday, including promises to continue with economic stimulus packages, low interest rates and to increase IMF funding.

At every step, global action is needed if domestic solutions are to work because of the huge interdependence of our financial services system and our economy. By giving real help to families and businesses, such as a VAT cut to every household worth on average £275, the Government is taking the action necessary to aid economic recovery.

I'm looking forward to next month's London Summit where G20 leaders will aim to reach international agreement on a package of support for stability, growth and creating jobs. 

While global solutions are essential, communities also have a crucial role to play at local level in supporting each other and in mitigating the impact of the downturn. The commitment of the faith and voluntary sector to helping those whose jobs, homes or businesses may be at risk means they have a unique practical contribution to make to the outcomes of the Summit, and their values of responsibility and sustainability could play a greater role in shaping the new economy that we build together.

Giving real help to people is really important. I'd like to invite your questions (external link) on how government can work together with the faith and voluntary sector to help people in the UK affected by the global economic downturn, and to help build our new global economy.

Written on 26 February

The incentives and barriers young people face when considering volunteering was top of the agenda at my latest meeting with the youth advisers panel on 25 February 2009. You may recall these are a group of young people I am working with who share their views on a whole range of Government policy (see my earlier blog entry).

I strongly believe volunteering is a great way to boost ambitions, build confidence and responsibility and can be a pathway to employment. Volunteering can also bring people of different backgrounds and ages together and foster a sense of pride and attachment to the local community.

And so I wanted to hear the panel’s ideas on volunteering and what support Government can give to encourage young people to take part. As well as our meeting, that morning the panel visited an innovative Prince’s Trust (external link) project in Hammersmith where young people from a range of backgrounds are involved in community projects.

Written on 26 February

I gave a lecture yesterday at the London School of Economics about preventing extremism. The lecture looked at who we should and shouldn't work with and talk to as part of advancing this very difficult work.

I am a big believer in the power of speech and in using democratic processes to discuss, debate and challenge ideas and issues. That is why part of what I was saying focused on the need to challenge political correctness where it threatens to stifle debate.

Preventing extremism is a very difficult conversation to have, but we must have it in an open and frank way because it’s only that way that we’ll get to the solutions that we need. But if we are going to have these tough conversations they need to be rooted in an overriding sense of what is right and wrong. If we are clearer about our own values, about what is and is not acceptable we should all feel more confident taking on big issues, not tip toeing round the edges for fear of offending or upsetting people.

Setting those kind of dividing lines means that people can have the confidence to stand up for what they believe in and challenge issues that they find distasteful. It takes a great deal of courage to do that and where people are prepared to stand up I think it is part of my job to support them.

Written on 24 February

Speaking at the tenth anniversary of the Macpherson report into the Stephen Lawrence enquiry was an opportunity to look back and mark how much has changed over the past decade

But, it was also an opportunity to look ahead and think about what more we still need to do to make sure this really is a society of equal choices and opportunity.

That’s why I chose the day to launch a consultation about how we develop our race equality strategy for the future.

Although a lot has been achieved there is still more to do. Different ethnic groups are experiencing disadvantage in different ways and are not all in the same position. The consultation is about considering how we tackle those specific barriers and build on the progress we have made.

I want to make sure that people know that even though equality issues have sometimes be seen as a minority concern - they are absolutely not - this is a vital debate for everyone.

Today I went to a conference organised by the Evangelical Alliance (external link) about the vital role of faith groups in the financial crisis.

Churches, mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras and temples offer spiritual sustenance, but also so much more. They are places where people come together, get organised, receive and offer practical support, advocacy and advice. 

This is always important, but when people are facing tough times, it is crucial.

It was hugely encouraging to see the commitment of so many groups, from small churches to household names such as the Salvation Army, to step up their efforts. And some groups are thinking now about ways we can help young people avoid debt and all the problems it can entail by giving them a better understanding of how to plan a budget (through programmes such as Care for the Family’s Quidz In (external link).) 

Society reaps a huge benefit from what these faith groups do and government can’t afford to overlook it. So at this difficult time, when many charities are facing new demands and some are dealing with falling income, we are committed to listening and learning, providing support where we can. 

For example, we are starting a conversation about a “charter of excellence.”  Faith groups can have a legitimate and important role in providing public services and many do so very successfully - such as Church Action on Poverty, who work with my department to give more people a real say over local budgets through participatory budgeting. 

Very often faith groups have expertise, and an ability to each out to vulnerable groups, that few other organisations can rival. But sometimes public bodies are reluctant to work with them, perhaps because of concerns that taxpayers’ money has to be seen to be used fairly, or that public services must be available to everyone, regardless of their background.

That’s why (as we promised in Face to Face and Side by Side) we have started a conversation about a “charter for excellence.”  This would mean faith charities who want to provide public services promising to offer their services unconditionally, and not to use public money to proselytise.

There’s a balance to be struck here. It’s not about trying to stop the people manning the soup kitchens or making the home visits talking about their faith if people ask, or being open about what motivates them. It is about making sure that services funded by public money come with “no strings attached.”

We need a discussion about how we get that balance right. But when we have the charter ready, it will give public bodies everywhere renewed confidence to work with and commission from faith groups.

I also believe faith groups’ voice needs to be heard as we think about what the world is going to look like in the future. On 2 April, the Government will host the London Summit (external link). This conference will bring together the big banks and financial institutions, leaders of the world’s most prosperous nations, and heads of emerging economies such as China and India. They will be discussing how we get through this crisis and reform the global economy so that it is not only stronger, but fairer and greener too. 

Faith-based groups such as CAFOD are already talking to the Department for International Development about how they can make their voices heard on issues such as debt. This interest and involvement is only going to grow as the Summit approaches, and I welcome it.

January has been a busy month, and it is not over yet. The chill winds of the economic downturn have focussed our minds on the need to protect jobs and homes, and the work of the National Economic Council continues to focus on helping people through the tough times.

But we've also been addressing some of the medium-term issues too, especially the issues around 'social mobility', which is sociologists-speak for getting on in life. Throughout my political life I have held the conviction that the majority of people want to work hard, provide for their families, get on and do well. They want to develop their talents and try new things. They want to be the best they can be. The point of politics is to allow this human liberation to happen. So the recent New Opportunities White Paper, launched by the Prime Minister (external link), Liam Byrne, and myself addresses the barriers which hold people back. I am angry when I meet young people, especially in the inner-cities, who know nothing of the world beyond the square mile where they live, who've never been a theatre, restaurant or music concert, who've never spent time with anyone from a background different to theirs. In an age of unparalleled opportunities, with cheap travel, instant information, and digital technology we must be mad as a nation to be allowing so much of our young talent to remain untapped.

I was also pleased to take part in the recent signing at Number 10 of the Multi-Area Agreements (MAAs). Now, I know this was not the main topic of conversation in the Dog and Duck, but if MAAs work properly, they have the potential to transform the ways local people can drive up standards of their local services, as well as getting better value for money. You can watch a clip from the launch event below. If you're involved in an MAA, I would love to hear your experiences, good and bad, of how they're going.

Lastly, in the absence of any actual sunshine, it has been uplifting to bathe in the glow from Washington. Obama's speech was a great moment, but of course the real test is the days ahead. His election is proof that hope can triumph over fear, and that's a lesson that can be applied here as well as in the USA.

This morning saw the publication of a new Communities and Local Government document, with contributions from across government, called Fair Rules for  Strong Communities. It represents the government's approach to ensuring that there are fair rules for everyone in the recession, and that no-one should get a free ride.

I am delighted that we are addressing some of the real concerns that people talk to me about all of the time. People want us to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour as a priority; they want people to give and get respect. And they want justice to be visible.

The highlights on this 'respect' agenda are:

- a tougher community payback scheme. Offenders will wear a uniform and undertake hard community work for several hours a day, with communities themselves directly identifying local projects. I proposed this policy some years ago - so I am pleased to see it come to fruition.

- steps to support people who do the right thing, including a £5m Community Crime Fighters programme to train 3,600 members of the public who are already active in their communities and want to do more to make them safer.

- ensuring that public sector workers and other authority figures are empowered and supported in upholding fair rules. We have already given new powers to teachers, for example to search pupils. Assaulting someone who is providing a public service is now an aggravating factor that may lead to a tougher sentence. We will go further.

The document is packed with common sense and practical ideas, and I would love to hear your views about it.

In my Communities in Control  White Paper I committed to making sure that people can have their say and feel that government is listening to their opinions. As part of that I had the pleasure yesterday of meeting two of my new Youth Advisers, Jacqueline Macaulay and Rory Birch who will act as a 'voice for young people' in my department.

We talked about what they thought successful communities could and should be, and I asked them to have a think about how we can keep local parks and town centres free of vandalism, as well as what they think of the plans for green spaces in the Thames Gateway. You can watch a clip to see how it went on youtube.  

I heard about how Rory plans on integrating his local neighbourhoods by organising five-a-side matches, and how Jacqueline helped design her local school uniforms - it was inspiring to how much they have invested in changing their communities for the better. I'm passionate about getting a new generation of young adults interested in politics and voting, and it's great to see the energy and enthusiasm these two have shown in making a difference to their communities.

I'll be meeting with Jacqueline, Rory and the other seven members of the Youth Advisor panel regularly over the coming months to hear their opinions on all the different issues that affect young people - from homelessness to community cohesion. I'm looking forward to learning more about their thoughts and ideas for the future of their communities.

The videos from Hazel's trip to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are now available to watch at www.youtube.com/CommunitiesUK. Watch the first day below.

Admin Team

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It’s been a jam-packed autumn so far - so much so, that I’ve found it hard to keep this blog updated as frequently as I would have liked. But here’s a bumper edition, and I will try to post again shortly.

The ministerial workload of meetings, visits, casework and policy-making has been heavier than usual with the current global economic turbulence - about which, more later. I want to highlight just a few of the visits I’ve made that made a particular impression on me.

At the end of August, I visited the World Firefighter Games in Liverpool and met some of the amazing men and women representing the UK in disciplines including football, triathlon and the “Toughest Firefighter Alive.” I also gave a speech, and was pleased to have the chance to recognise the great job that the UK’s fire and rescue services do day in, day out.

In September, I went to the Development Trusts Association’s annual conference. It was an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable progress that has already been made in translating the promise of the White Paper Communities in Control into reality and also to meet some of the people who have been passing power to local communities for years - and who are now playing a crucial role as we help more local authorities and other organisations follow their example.

And in October I spoke at the annual conference of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. This year the conference took place in Belfast. I was impressed to see the regeneration projects that have helped make the city such a vibrant, exciting place. I also met community organisations who help create jobs, training opportunities, and simply a space to meet for local women.

At the conference itself, the main topic of discussion was inevitably the financial turbulence that is affecting the whole of the world economy. It is clear that this Department - like every other bit of government - is going to have think long and hard to make sure that every penny it spends is helping people through tough times. We are already working closely with the Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions to give support to people facing repossession - but there is much more to do. I have attended the first meetings of the National Economic Council which has a crucial job in the months ahead. There is no more important priority this autumn than to find practical ways of helping families who work hard and do everything right but are still having to make some stark choices.

Finally, the Prime Minister carried out a government reshuffle at the start of the month. It was a pleasure to welcome Margaret Beckett as Housing Minister and Sadiq Khan as Minister for Community Cohesion and the Fire and Rescue Service. I know they bring invaluable skills and experience as the Department steps up to the challenges of a world that looks very different from how it did even a year ago.

As promised, photos from Hazel's trip to South Asia are now available on our flickr photostream. Enjoy!

Admin team.

We will shortly be posting video clips from Hazel's recent trip to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh to accompany her blog posts.

Hazel is off on recess at the moment. This blog will resume again in September.

Admin Team

I'm now back in the UK after an incredibly busy but wonderful trip to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

On the last day of my trip - last Friday - I flew to Sylhet to visit the region where a large part of the Bangladeshi community in the UK comes from. I had a series of meetings with members of the community there as well as Bangladeshis from the UK who are investing in Sylhet. I was struck by the strong links between the two countries and people's willingness to give something back to their community. 

I then visited two primary schools where the children were enthusiastic and engaged. The lessons focussed on active learning and the children took part in games, and singing to help them learn the basics. We then went to a women's empowerment project for the employees of a tea estate in the area. The young women spoke passionately about their desire for more vocational training and access to skills. Listening to them and seeing the children at the school gave me great hope about the future of Bangladesh and reinforced to me the importance of giving people a voice and the ability to influence their own lives.

After returning to Dhaka, I took part in a call in programme on Radio Today. I had a very warm welcome from staff at the station - including a delicious cake - and had a chance to chat everyone working there. The radio interview covered subjects ranging from Preventing Violent Extremism, climate change, and even healthy eating. I really enjoyed interacting with the calls and text messages from listeners and was impressed with the radio station's breadth of coverage and energy.

I had a brief chance to reflect on the trip with my colleagues on Friday evening in the Dhaka airport departure lounge and we all agreed that it had been a very worthwhile and moving trip. There were several messages that came through from all the countries that we visited and I have been inspired to take these back and ensure that they inform the department's work.  This trip has reinforced to me that there is more that we all have in common than that divides us no matter what our religion or nationality and that it is absolutely crucial to keep working to give people a real stake and voice in their future.