Responding to the Prime Minister’s ‘Big Society’ speech today, Mike O’Connor, CBE, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus said:
“The Big Society initiative has at its heart the kernel of a great idea – putting people at the heart of the services that matter to them. Consumers will clearly want to work with services in very different ways. Some will welcome getting involved in services directly, many others simply want services which listen to their views and needs.
“The Big Society will mean much more to people if they’ve played a big role in shaping it. This in turn will require information, tools and sustained support for communities to take on the bigger role Government envisages for them.
“One helpful step is the use of unclaimed bank accounts to support community projects, a move that many consumers will welcome.”