Title: The British big society effect: the challenges of the third sector

Authors: Jamie P. Halsall; Ian G. Cook; Paresh Wankhade

Addresses: School of Human and Health Sciences, The University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, UK ' School of Humanities and Social Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK ' Edge Hill Business School, Edge Hill University, Lancashire, UK

Abstract: The voluntary sector, or the 'third sector', as it is frequently known in social policy circles has been at the centre of social action in the UK for many years. When the New Labour Government came into power back in 1997 the third sector had become more visible and the government of the day had great expectations of the positive impact that the third sector promised. Since this time there has been a belief in central government that the third sector plays a vital role in enhancing civil society and of strengthening the functionality of local communities. In May 2010, the coalition government implemented the concept of the big society. Overall the big society is recognised as a pivotal player in the relationship between citizens and the state. The third sector is perceived as a principle mechanism for implementing the big society vision. This paper aims to critically explore the big society's impact on the third sector, within the context of the current global economic recession.

Keywords: civic society; government; social capital; social cohesion; voluntary sector; Big Society; UK; United Kingdom; third sector; local communities; economic recession.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2015.073567

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2015 Vol.7 No.4, pp.309 - 321

Received: 24 Jan 2015
Accepted: 15 Jul 2015
Published online: 12 Dec 2015 *

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