It's all Cameron's fault. Despite being Christmas I had not thought about my Christian upbringing for many years. But speaking in Oxford recently the prime minister called for a revival of 'traditional Christian values' to counter what he called Britain's 'moral collapse'. That statement got me thinking, both about my own upbringing and also how the Christmas story might resonate with "big society'.
In common with many born into 1950s Britain, Sunday school and being taken to church by parents was something that I took for granted. It was only as an adolescent altar server that the penny dropped and I made my own choice to live life without any religious impediment.
But it's Christmas and whatever your faith, you will right now inevitably be finding yourself drawn into an alternative world; one where mince pies and watching school nativity plays are more important than business lunches or following parliamentary debate.
Of all the players in the Christmas story, the shepherds are my firm favourites. The three wise men held high office, so going to Bethlehem was really just part of their job. But the shepherds on the other hand had no rank or appointment; they did what intuitively felt right. They were inspired and acted on that inspiration. They were also close to the grassroots. They just did it without asking anyone if it was OK. In my experience, that's where all the best community action emerges from; ground level.
If 'big society' had been the issue of the day in Judah, rather than that census, the shepherds would certainly have been the people to watch. Let me introduce you to three latter day shepherds. If staging a contemporary community nativity play, I'd cast them without hesitation. Each has been inspired by life experience. None have waited to be told they can, they just have.
First on my list is Terry is an ex con turned community gardener. On the tough Essex estate where he lives he now grows cabbages where junkies once threw needles. He's fearless and always speaks his mind. Next is Steve. He was in the army when a drunk driver knocked him into a life of disability, pain and benefit dependency. He overcame the odds and now helps others learn to work from home in rural Norfolk. His vision is to return to financial self-sufficiency. Lastly, there's Dawn. She runs a brilliant and diverse Norwich community project. She simply won't take no for an answer so when funding for her project for excluded youngsters was cut, she set out to open a free school for them instead.
In fact I'm convinced that it's time people took a closer look at these grassroots activists; so much so that in 2012 I'll be writing a book about 50 of them. Of course government has a role to play, as do local authorities and everyone else elected or appointed to lead and administer. But as Douglas Adams once said; "It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes." The obvious answer often comes from the least likely place.
My book will recognise these people for what they do, profiling them, exploring what made them angry enough to act and how they overcame the inevitable hurdles along the way. Perhaps as importantly, the book will also inspire others, encouraging them I hope to learn from these experiences and go on to bring about the changes they want to see.
And finally, here's an opportunity for you. If as you read this someone you know pops into your mind, as good example of the kind of grassroots community activist I'm looking for, then please introduce us. I can't guarantee to include everyone in the book, but right now as I do my research, the more the merrier. Happy Christmas!
Robert Ashton is a social entrepreneur, business author and 'big society' troubleshooter. He tweets at @robertashton1
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