The Big Society is nothing new

The “Big Society” is nothing new – we merely thought of it and worked at it as many small societies! 

The view below does not apply merely to personal interest[s]. It might be considered good fortune to have less ‘support’ from government, both national AND local. From my local experience, the last thing one should do is donate an archive or collection to local government. Items become subsumed into anonymous ‘collections’ that never see the light of day in ‘libraries’ that demand arranged access; collections of artefacts, models and creative works are deposited in secure warehouses because it’s cheaper and requires no qualified oversight. 

My own local authority and ‘civic’ group have failed abysmally to support ‘politically’ and administratively (at no public expense) the activities of qualified ‘conservators’ – and sequesters donated archives and bequests of collections in warehouses while failing to maintain donated historic structures with an abominable lack of interest and knowledge.