Praise and rewards for those who deserve it

It’s around three years since David Cameron first used the phrase ‘Big Society’.  Indeed, Conservative M.P. Jesse Norman had earlier written a book on the subject.  It was mentioned in the last Tory election manifesto, has been heralded in various speeches and has been talked about almost as often as the economy or spending cuts.  Amazing, then, that we still have no idea what the Tories mean when they mention it.

Most people, when questioned, feel that it is a vague notion about volunteers running public services and for that reason, it’s a phrase and an idea that puts people off.  In short, the public feel as though using your free time to help others has been politicised.  David Cameron spent a large part of his first six months in office being photographed with any group of volunteers he could get anywhere near.  This hobby seems to have tailed off in recent times – could that be because private polling tells him what he doesn’t want to hear?  Perhaps he is getting the message that people are put off by this grandstanding, this taking advantage of people, this cynical attempt to manufacture party political kudos from people’s good will?  There’s an irony here.  As unemployment rises and people have more time on their hands, the number of volunteer hours clocked seems to be falling.  Rather than stepping into the breach to run closing services, people are angry at this attempt by the Government to get something for nothing.  Society is treating me as though I am worthless, the feeling goes, so why should I put anything back?  As one who has run an organisation which depended upon volunteers for its success, I can also vouch for the notion that people volunteer when they feel good about themselves.  If you’re made to feel undervalued in the labour market, you’re hardly going to feel as though you have huge amounts of skills to offer the ‘Third Sector’.

This, of course, is where Government should be stepping in.  Rather than expecting volunteers to do more in our society, why are we not doing more to reward those who already give their skills and time?  Of course central Government won’t lift a finger to help – there are no votes in recognising things that people already do.  But communities, led by Local Government could make a massive difference.

Here in Monmouth, we have a number of organisations which rely on help from unpaid sources.  Two examples are the Guides and the local football club.  It would seem logical to me that by rewarding the work people already do, we could not only make people realise that they are held in high esteem, but also encourage more people to help out.  What rewards could we offer?  Well, I doubt very much whether our local Leisure Centre is full to capacity all the time.  Why can’t we give the Guides and the football club vouchers for off-peak periods to be given as rewards for those who help out?  Log, perhaps, 10 volunteer hours and you could have a free swimming session as a thank you from the community.  If you’ve been helping out with Guides, you and a partner could have a badminton court for free.  It may not sound much, but it sends a definite signal – we appreciate you and value the commitment you give to the community.

Once this is established, it can be built upon.  The idea that helping out can have its rewards doesn’t have to stop with organised groups.  How many people could do with a helping hand somewhere along the line?  Whether it’s help with the garden or taking something to the tip, picking children up from school or a few logs chopped for the fire, people need help all the time.  Normally, the reward comes with a similar favour returned, but not everyone can do that.  A system of Community Credits would assist those who need help and encourage those who are able to provide it.  Local businesses could be involved too, without any great loss – a free cake at the café for anyone who has 10 Community Credits, or a half price hour in the Playbarn if you’re looking after someone else’s children.

Such a scheme would be bound to attract criticism, on the basis of cost, administration and abuse.  None of these issues is insurmountable. 

Many supermarkets run loyalty schemes which can be adapted for this use.  Tesco and Sainsbury are not renowned for doing things which are prohibitively costly and they would not run their schemes if they cost too much money. 

There is also no reason why schemes need to be centrally run.  If communities ran them, through a local shop or pub or Community Centre, they would be far more effective.

Thirdly, anyone suggesting that those who currently give their time freely might be corrupted by the idea of a free hour at a swimming pool doesn’t understand why people do these things in the first place.

Let’s stop playing politics with people’s good nature and do what elected representatives should be doing – rewarding people who do the right thing, and encouraging those who do not.

liamstubbslabour@hotmail.co.uk
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