THERE have been several letters recently decrying the Government's proposals re 'the big society'. I'm also going to have a moan because I think that the Government has done a terrible job of promoting a good idea.

Think about it. Who runs the lifeboats; Who runs the NSPCC, RSPCA, St John Ambulance, Meals on Wheels, Dial a Ride etc. Now think how much it would cost if the Government were to run these organisations and more to the point do you think that they would be run efficiently. No way. Compare the NSPCC with the service given by social services.

The common criticism of the big society, is that it is done on the cheap. Perhaps it is, but that is something positive not negative. A lot of the voluntary organisations employ people with good wages. They're cheap because they're run efficiently. Try volunteering as a lifeboat crewman; you'll find out you're in a long queue because of the waiting list to join. They deserve the money they get because of the danger but what I expect  means more to them is the satisfaction they get after saving lives.

What stops a lot of people volunteering are worries over things like 'elf'n safety and uncertainty over whether they can cope. Hopefully Lord Young has started the board rolling removing some of the health and safety issues and hopefully the government can get it's act together to promote 'The Big Society' in a way that explains it correctly.

To those who criticise the idea, I ask you to look around where you live. Are you sure that you could not be of some assistance to some deserving person near you? And surely the whole point of 'The burden going from the few to the many' is that each of the many can do their own little bit and the few, i.e. the government can do what they have to do such as defence of the realm and encourage the rest of us to do our bit far more effectively and efficiently than they now realise and admit that they are capable of doing.

Big government does not work. Ask Tony Blair to give an honest answer. After his 'Education, Education, Education' speech plus loads of money, look at the result. 'Big Society' has a lot of merit. Give it a chance.

– Only dreaming (name and address supplied).