What future? Big Society is meaningless drivel.

There is no consistency in Government policy towards the voluntary sector. Or anywhere else for that matter. On one hand they talk "Big Society" and seem to envision the voluntary and community sector delivering lots of public services. On the other hand they don't seem to understand where the sector gets its money from in the first place, and that the consequence of massive cuts to local and regional government, as well as other centrally-funded schemes, will result in mass destruction for swathes of the sector. And in addition to the millions of pounds being lost through local government etc, the sector is of course getting less money through donations, less money is available from trusts as their investments tumble and the government is going to get poorer by receiving less income tax because of all the people no longer earning, and the lack of profits companies are making.

So not only is the voluntary sector suffering, but the coalition's policies don't even make sense in their own terms. They won't cut deficits in the long term if their income is so cut. Services won't be delivered by a non-existent voluntary organisation (or an organisation with less funds and bigger demands) and their are no savings left to be made through privatisation. All that can be privatised for profit has already been done by the last Tory and Labour governments. Everything that can be sold off for profit already has been. Which is why they are reduced to selling of forests, and trying to privatise public services that can only be profitable for the private sector if the Government gives them lots of money (thus not making savings). The last Labour government was beginning to realise this, and were looking daily less enthusiastic about PFI as financial chickens came home to roost, and less happy about the amount of subsidy going to the private sector to deliver public services - most notably Rail services.

So what is the future for the voluntary sector, and for the UK in general? It's very hard to predict where this downturn will end with the current policies in place. The banks need controlling (if not nationalising), and more investment is needed all over, not less. The Uk appears to be heading for bankruptcy unless things change, and the voluntary sector, particularly at a local level - where people mostly engage - is being destroyed. Bang goes the big society. Bang goes everything.

Odds on a general election in 2011 are 11/4 at Paddy Power...