Beware ever thinking that change can be free

Posted February 11, 2011

This weekend has seen a flurry of articles around the state of the Big Society. Much criticism is being thrust at David Cameron’s flagship – is he threatening the entire basis of his big society by bringing in cuts too quickly before getting workable and sensibly funded programmes in place to make it happen?

Make Justice Work is clear – beware ever thinking that change, particularly cultural change, comes cheap, or even worse, free. Equally, whilst some change can be implemented quickly, others simply cannot. If we are going to ask large swathes of the voluntary, private and statutory sector to find new funding and make cuts then they must be given time AND resources to do this. Keep and support what works.

Big Society, cuts, David Cameron

Roma Hooper

Roma has worked in and around the criminal justice system since 1992, when she was asked to help set up Britain’s first prison radio station at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution. She has a Masters in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics, is Chair of the Griffins Society (supporting women in the criminal justice system), Vice-Chair of the Foundation Training Company (which runs a series of prison and community based resettlement and development programmes) as well as Chair and Founder of the Prison Radio Association. In 2010 she launched Make Justice Work, a campaign to highlight the cost of short-term prison sentences and to improve public confidence in community sentences.