What is the role of government in encouraging and supporting citizens to be active ?
The government role is INVEST – INVEST – INVEST helping citizens to build healthy communities:-
Here are just 10 simply ideas based on investing in activities that would impove the community quality of life:-
1) INVEST is Can Do Health. Ours was called the Best Health Service in the World. New reports are showing around 40% of health workers have no connective community qualification. This is a massive wasted opportunity. Who better our health workers to nurture our communities back to health. Add to this the £millions of surplus quoted by press this last year in the Health Service, how can any ordinary citizen begin to understand why there are massive year end underspent budgets. Citizens have a real faith in health, it is the calling we all respect and millions are glad we have the provision when they trust their doctor, nurse or hospital. But that is just the start, there needs to be more of the underspend going into can do wellbeing to improve lifestyles. Make Health Services in all regions have to implement an Active Citizensship Care Charter as a social responsibility bridge.
This is all about improving mental health, spiritual health and physical health. It is all about local health trainers as activity health mentors in the community that have knowledge to build a future.
2) INVEST in Schools. Teachers, classroom assistants, school safety and catering workers, parents, governers and students. What a fantastic social network opportunity. What is needed is government to take Active Citizenship into all our schools. Find ways for young minds to build mutual respect, while learning about the responsibilities awaiting in their big world. At the same time engage those adults who have a connection with the school (see first line on this para) as an intergeneration wealth of knowledge, life skills, leadership and experience. As much value will go to the participating adults by learning more about the young people as will pass into the young enquiring minds. Putting this in place now is highly likely to shape what young people want to see happen in future communities. It will address issues, Eco-Towns, conservation, regeneration, health, care, transport, governance, etc.
3) INVEST in Sports – With much talk about a legacy from the Olympics 2012 going into regions. Let us spin that on its head. Instead let government put the legacy into communities before the 2012 games by the Prime Minister getting a special bursary to award where the VOICES in SPORT are provided with a five year package to plan, identify, support, create and motivate the future legacy opportunities, making our communiies in regions better ready for the legacy years. This needs to not only be about sports but about diverstiy, volunteering and peoples health. Government should take action now to not let the elite sports people go it alone, but to get the whole nation of sports on their side. This will need new grants and investment into local sport groups with them beginning now to look at how they can help build a Community of Sports as the network of legacy. Britain is ready to take the big step towards making sports an enriching social network.
4) INVEST in Volunteering – a good start has been made, but there is much potential to do more. Government should introduce an Active Citizenship programme for Universities like nothing seen before. Each of our major professions, Banks, Law, Politics, Accounting, etc should put up a social responsibility Trophy (one profession per University) for awarding to the Most Creative Graduate (Active Citizen) of the year. Mark the occasion with high profiled presentations. And of course it would follow on with the National Trophy for Graduate Social Responsibility. One requirement would be for hours dedicated to making a difference being counted during the term time.
5) INVERST in Communities, Jobs and Skills– The most important of all is the grass roots Active Citizens. These are the inspirers of ideas. There are barriers in every community and instead of sweeping them under the carpet government, councils and citizens should tackle the problems and find solutions. Where on solution is too costly, then bank the idea, place it into a priority plan listing for a time when more resources are available, maybe a big corporation in a future year will come to the area and the banked plan can be put into their development plan. But for the plans that can be done it clearly is more important than ever to empower and engage the citizens. Do not hide the costs just because the citizens might think “hec that is a lot to spend on this project” but let them see and be part of putting the spend to good use. Also where any regeneration takes place there should be a requirement for at least 30% of jobs created to go to local people. If they do not have the skill the option should be to offer quality training with a recongnied qualification. It is essential to move away – if not outlaw – the locally designed certificate of attendance. They are meaningless and it is high time in a world competing age to require all certificates to be robust, respected and valued.
6) INVEST in Innovation– Government needs to take out the capitals. Looking in public spaces we see the Co-operative bank having replaced its capital C (Co-operative) with a small c. The result is facinating as it has produced a much more friendly and welcoming face (brand). Government and councils have to be part of the people, break down the obstacles, throw open their doors amd say to the citizens we are here for you. Begin by modernising the branding. At the same time government has to get its hand dirty by getting involved with local community projects. Ministers need to be at the coal face – digging a lump of coal, or out in the field – cutting the first grass sod at an Eco-Town or be brave enough to take a create of healthy fruity juices to Heathrow Terminal 5 during the hour of public need. Of course these are all positive publicity gimmicks but the public would expect it of Sir Elton John or JKR or Richard Branson – it is the essential ingredient that says we are British. The message on innovation is be bold, inspire and connect with the public to get good ideas across.
7) INVEST in People – one of the best motivators has been where citizens have been awarded a bursary to develop themselves. There are costly courses out of the reach of ordinary people, but by meeting with such as City and Guilds and Institute of Leadership and Management. Government is able to drive the price down and create invement in people bursaries, easier to acquire, based on the student grants system, where community activists can get grants to follow their dream and become, maybe a team leader or creative artist. Invest in the person and we unlock talent. The whole way mature training (LSE) has been working has to now move a pace. We need to see more emphasis given to people becoming can-do citizens. We need the skills funding to go into community leaders, citizenship mentors, volunteer co-ordinators, health trainers, diveristy and equality advisors and in what would be a leap of faith – every councillor should be taking an Active Citizenship Award but not alone, but as part of a teaming with communities approach, in groups with five other citizens.
8) INVEST in Groups – across the country millions of people enjoy sharing their hobby or interest with others. We need to have leading examples where government show their support and put in new and bigger grants to produce exciting social networks. These need to be larger grants with all diverse community needs included. Taking one of the boldest moves every, they should be selected by Cabinet Ministers and, duing a specified month, one group per day should be announced by the Prime Minister. This can attract media to promote the group and put people in tune with what is possible for people who take part in making a difference. The money, at least £1million per group, could be lottery (good causes) money with the group invited to a bid draw on one of the weekends during the year to press the button. Most citizens see the lottery as a good cause, but not often do they see the causes chosen. This is a way of connecting public, representative and good causes and done professinally could drive up lottery ticket sales. Community Groups are our Biggest Asset.
9) INVEST in the free Environment – Government with Councls already does much but has to do more by encouraging citizens to be active in Saving the World. Ensure every new Eco-Town and every new Large Planning Approval has a commitment to engage citizens in activities would be a good start. The size of the investment should have an indicated level of new investment into Active Citizenship for Young People, where they get to hold youth councils on what services they want in the area. Today’s young people want more say not only in their choice of school subjects but in the social planning life of communities they will inherit. But this has also got to be offered to the others in the community because one size does not fit all, however, the various plans need a common threat and here the make it happen councils and governement need to be involved. Consultations are old hat, important, but old hat and the new ways have to be inspiring, using advocacy, technology and Eco-Project Budgeting (EPB) where local people in groups get to make decisions. It has never been more important to encourage and empower local citizens. This way will additionally make stronger connections between business and the community.
10) INVEST in Identities - The biggest problem modern society has is the lack of undestanding by citizens about each other. There nees to be celebration of the many diverse lifestyles and different cultures. We need to rejoice about our local communities. We must stop listening to a disgraceful rot from newspapers that undermine cohesion, possibly looking at a new law that puts reporters into the dock if they create unrest. We are for good honest reporting, but some of the news iteam in the weekend press, makes us want to vomit. Britain should be proud of our identies and our ability to shape and change the world. Today should always be our new day in building a Proud World, with the world looking at Briatin on how communities best develop. The first ime buyers need to find a government will help them get their first home, give them financial and service support. Britain needs to ride the credit squeeze by stimulating our economy, giving all new mortages a tax free five years on their mortage repayments. Ensure the design of new qualifications is tailored to the needs of the individual, with due regard to religious and lifestyle issues. Encourage the business groups to match fund community projects, including the BBC and ITV each presenting a Thanks to People show each year. One in the summer one in the winter and the public phone in saying which of the two did the best programme. Open dark public minds and enthuse them with light to impress all citizens – across the globe – because the government role is to invest in the people.