Press release

PM kickstarts Big Society in Liverpool

David Cameron has travelled to Liverpool in the first of a series of public events on the Big Society.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

David Cameron has travelled to Liverpool in the first of a series of public events on the Big Society.

Speaking to an audience of local community groups, charities and community leaders, the PM set out how the Big Society will be “the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power” from the state to individuals.

Mr Cameron said:

It’s time for something different, something bold - something that doesn’t just pour money down the throat of wasteful, top-down government schemes.

The Big Society is that something different and bold.

It’s about saying if we want real change for the long-term, we need people to come together and work together - because we’re all in this together.

Mr Cameron also announced the creation of a Big Society Bank which will be financed using dormant bank and building society account money. He said:

These unclaimed assets, alongside the private sector investment that we will leverage, will mean that the Big Society Bank will - over time - make available hundreds of millions of pounds of new finance to some of our most dynamic social organisations.

Attending the event were representatives from 4 “vanguard” communities which the government will help to create “beta” versions on the Big Society.

These communities will become the great training grounds where the Big Society will be built with officials from the Department of Communities and Local Government assisting them.

Published 19 July 2010