Big Society's Big Mouth Powered by v

I think this is interesting. At first I thought, no way, housing should be based on need, some people can't volunteer and after all volunteering is VOLUNTARY.

But thinking about it I wonder, if you had a certain percentage assigned this way, maybe that would be a positive thing for that community or estate. Those who volunteer are more likely to support local community projects, you need people who will do that in every place and they can encourage others too.

My Aunt is a Baptist Minister and her church pays her to live in a new estate, her family were the first people to move there and as people arrived they have welcomed them and helped run community activities for everyone, whatever their religion. It means their new estate, despite being on the outskirts of their town, still being constructed and by the motorway already has a sense of community.

So I agree with the report that people who do this "those who help make it a good place to live, work and play – are valuable people. They are the backbone of their community'

As I have family members who are disabled/ill and others who act as carers it is an issue if it has to go through the housing officers discretion if a person should volunteer, especially as it could mean more forms and interviews for people who are already required to do this.

Some of the criteria seems to be a bit nit-picky and inflexible to circumstance, however it does seem this is a particular award and other people will still be banded according to need, so despite my first impressions I will keep an open mind :-).

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