Government ministers sign up to work with charities on big society scheme

Junior children's minister Tim Loughton and civil society minister Nick Hurd have signed up to the big society placement scheme, developed by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services. Ministers, MPs and civil servants will spend between two days and a week working alongside a youth charity.

The scheme was launched at a parliamentary event last week. Faiza Chaudary, NCVYS policy director, said it will enable participants to experience the local reality of the big society vision.

"It will provide a thorough experience of the community and voluntary organisations' work on the ground, how they are managed and how they achieve the maximum outcome on minimal resources," she added.

Chaudary also said the scheme will increase public exposure of the of the voluntary youth sector and allow politicians to directly engage with young people.

Newly appointed Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes and Natascha Engel, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs, are also among those to sign up.

Hurd said he wants to reduce the bureaucracy for voluntary and community organisations that deliver services in partnership with the state. Under the big society banner, the government wants to see more public services delivered by voluntary and community groups.