Today the following statement was issued on the Cabinet Office website, which I’ve copied in here:
‘Lord Wei has announced he will stand down as the Government’s Adviser on Big Society to take up a new role with the Community Foundation Network driving practical development of Big Society ideas in communities.
‘Lord Wei has played a crucial role in developing the cross government programme of reform that is devolving power to citizens and communities and supporting them to make a difference. He remains a committed advocate of the Big Society and will continue to champion the cause of social action in the House of Lords.’
The Prime Minister added:
“Nat has worked incredibly hard over two years to help develop policies that support the Big Society. He has played an important role in delivering key initiatives like Community Organisers, National Citizen Service, and the Big Society Bank. I wish him every success in his new role with the Community Foundation Network.”
Lord Wei said:
“I look forward to taking on this new role where I will be getting out into communities and advising investors, organisations and community leaders in helping them to transfer power and resources from the centre to where it is really needed.”
“I will always be proud to have played a modest role in helping lay the foundations here on which the Big Society will be built in years to come. I want to thank everyone, but particularly the Prime Minister, for giving me this opportunity and for pursuing this vision with courage and determination. I look forward to helping in my own small way outside Government – because it is out there, in local communities, that the heavy lifting must now be done.”
It has been truly an honour to serve in Government, as well as before that for a number of years in opposition. But I am confident now that the policies that are now in place will serve as a great foundation for the Big Society in years to come. It has become clear to me in the last few months that there is much work to do outside of government to advise people, communities, and what I call civic entrepreneurs to help build the Big Society locally and make it easier for everyone to get involved.
I am really pleased to be working with the Community Foundation Network moving forwards, a fantastic movement, to develop some ideas in this regard (see below for some blurb on what they do). I’m also going to be active still in supporting the development of citizen-led giving and investing, and playing a part in helping the Chinese community here and in strengthening positive social, economic, and cultural ties between China and the UK. As ever I will continue to blog about Shoreditch, social reform, and the Big Society, and I will be communicating more about my plans here in the months to come. Thank you to everybody who has helped me and supported me up until now and I look forward to continuing to work with you to make our society stronger and bigger!
About the Community Foundation Network
Community Foundation Network represents the community foundation movement in the UK. Its aim is to help philanthropists create lasting value from their local giving through its network of 58 community foundations.
Community foundations are charities located across the UK dedicated to growing philanthropy, strengthening local communities, creating opportunities and tackling issues of disadvantage and exclusion. Community foundations manage funds donated by individuals and organisations, building endowments and acting as the vital link between donors and local needs.
97% of the population live in the area of benefit of a community foundation and CFN manages funds on behalf of the Office of Civil Society, Big Lottery Fund and Comic Relief as well as private philanthropists.
Last year community foundations invested £70m in 26,000 community based charities making the network the largest UK-wide independent funder of community based charitable activity.
For more information about the Community Foundation Network and my future role please contact: Stephen Hammersley or Jane Rawnsley on 020 7713 9326
www.communityfoundations.org.uk
For more information about Big Society and my former role, including all related press enquiries, please contact the Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall.
Thanks for meeting us today, and for your infectious enthusiasm and ideas for Buzzbnk.
When I was creating the consortium for the UnLtd bid to the Millennium Commission, I was really keen to involve Community Foundation Network. They decided that they could not join, as their members had no mandate to make grants to individuals. Despite my advocating that there was a role for supporting and nurturing local change-makers. I wish you well for the future, congratulate you on the NESTA grant to Shaftesbury and look forward to a promised tea with you.
Michael
Good move. Skimming through the blog, i noticed a question in the comments about how opensource movements and ideas might get their funding. the theory of BigSociety could do with some assisted funding, and a move towards working to increasing philanthropy (or community investment) could help fund some of the ideas. of course, as any venture capitalist knows, you may invest in 100 bad ideas, but the 1 good one is worth the trouble.
Whilst I’ve not agreed with all of your views, I admire your integrity and know your work to be evidence of this. I cannot help but feel sad that government will lose one of those few people still committed to and listening at the coalface with direct involvement in the corridors of power. I wonder who, if anyone else, fits this description. Best wishes.
[...] adviser, less than a year into the role. You can read his blogpost announcing his decision here. Most people seem relatively amused when Big Society hits the rocks in one way or another, showing [...]
[...] Nat Wei has stepped down from his role as an unpaid adviser to the Government on the Big Society at the Cabinet Office. A remarkably gifted social entrepreneur, it is likely that Wei’s talents will perhaps be better used in his new role at the Community Foundation Network. [...]
Lord Wei,
I’m sorry you are stepping down in this role. There is an example of the Big Society actually working, without any of the politics, in the form of CDFIs and their local Hubs helping real businesses on the ground. A new source of finance is launching in Oxfordshire next month with a gathering at Blenheim Palace, and I would very much like to invite you to attend. I’m sorry, I don’t know how else to reach you quickly. We have inspiring speakers from among loan recipients who have had their lives changed with our help, also supporters, volunteer business mentors and investors. We’re looking forward to introducing the whole concept to local businesses and potential ethical investors who would otherwise not get the chance to find out more. Please contact me and I will forward details and an official invitation. Very best regards.
[...] of the founding staff team at Teach First was Nat Wei, now Baron Wei of Shoreditch. Nat recently stepped down from working with Government to spend time on other work, including a role with the Community [...]
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long
comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
Anyway, just wanted to say fantastic blog!