01962 854971
Become a member

Login
  • About
    • Who we are
    • Team
    • Trustees
  • What we do
    • Guiding and representing you
    • Training and development support
    • Research and engagement expertise
    • Social enterprise expertise
    • Community buildings expertise
    • Policy and information sharing
    • Hampshire Homes Hub – community housing expertise
    • Jobs & Volunteering
    • Room & Desk Hire
    • Projects
  • Case Studies
  • News
    • News, Blogs & Events
  • Contact
  • Become a member

Blogs

Home / News, Blogs & Events / Blogs / Advent Calendar – 23 December: The Fairytale of Hampshire

Filter by:

  • What we do
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Information

Advent Calendar – 23 December: The Fairytale of Hampshire

In our annual report & accounts we reported on:

We highlighted the dependence on volunteers to deliver health and social services in rural Hampshire – some in the voluntary sector were concerned that “too much was being expected of them at a time when volunteers were in great demand.”

We reported the major debate centered on whether it was “better to take a client to a service or the service to a client in a scattered community” and the conclusion that it was time to think through and plan the most effective way to deliver health and community care services in rural areas.

Thank you to my colleague Jo for pointing these out for, whilst they all sound relevant and topical, they actually came from Action Hampshire’s Annual Reports from the 1980s! Thirty plus years ago we had identified the issues that we are still trying to address.

Looking back, it is tempting to think that these must have been easier to solve in the 1980s – before we faced the additional challenges of accelerated demographic changes (meaning that the needs of many older people are more complex and last for longer); austerity (meaning that we have less resource to address more disadvantage and poverty); house price growth (meaning that we are less likely to have the skills that we need locally – care being just one of them) – and I haven’t even mentioned the impact of Brexit or climate change.

However, we do have tools for solving least some of these issues now that we didn’t have in the 1980s – digital technology is a hugely powerful tool that many not-for-profit organisations have not even begun to benefit from yet. And maybe there is an advantage to the state not being able to meet our needs – as this forces us to find our own solutions. Whether this is a local community buying the pub to maintain a venue for meeting and socialising; a local group of people shaping & developing their own housing or a social enterprise selling classes to enable elderly and wheelchair users to stay physically fit. These are bottom-up, need based solutions, motivated by a desire to solve a problem or make someone’s life better and they can address the issues still outstanding since the 1980s.

And on another positive note, 2018 maybe the year when it was finally realised that you can have too many outsourcing companies (Carillion, Interserve etc) but you cannot have too many social and community enterprises.

Season’s greetings!

Share this page

Author

Published
23.12.18

Contact us

02.12.20
Blogs
7 reasons journalists don’t respond to your press release
View Blogs
06.08.20
Blogs
Life is like an iceberg…they don’t tell you this when you are young!
View Blogs
10.06.20
Blogs
“Let’s shine a light on what is often hidden from the outside world!”
View Blogs
01.06.20
Blogs
There are challenges ahead for affordable housing, but also real opportunities…
View Blogs

Newsletter sign up

By signing up to this mailing list you are consenting to receive our bulletin which contains latest news, topics from our online forum and promotes our member of the month. This information is sent out on the 1st and 15th of every month.

  • Pamber parish council were really pleased with the support provided by Action Hampshire’s Rural Housing Enabler helping us through the development process. It was a good experience.

    Chris Goss, Pamber Parish Council
  • Action Hampshire has always been a useful font of information for us at Winchester Churches Nightshelter. Sue has always been really helpful, and I do find the updates from the ‘wider’ world to be of interest.

    Michèle Price, Winchester Churches Nightshelter
  • Having Action Hampshire as a point of reference, support and guidance is invaluable for small to medium sized charities like ourselves. Without them, we would be far less connected and less able to serve our beneficiaries in a meaningful and coordinated way.

    Juno Hollyhock, The Rose Road Association
  • I have found Action Hampshire to be truly innovative and forward thinking in their approach to their work and their passion for the voluntary and community sector is easily measured through their work to help improve the lives of all sections of the community.

    Grant Cornwell, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation
  • Action Hampshire are the most fantastic organisation and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with them. They are very positive and easy to work with, from Rachel’s warmth on the front desk all the way up to Sue’s vast knowledge and experience on the top floor.

    George Scott-Welsh, IncuHive

Become a member

Everything we do at Action Hampshire is in support of our amazing members. Join us today and access a membership package to suit your organisation, tailored to meet your needs and the needs of the people and communities you serve.

Become a member

Sign up to our newsletter

Find out what's happening at Action Hampshire
and how you can get involved

Sign up

Find us

Westgate Chambers
Staple Gardens
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8SR

01962 854971

Get directions

Quick links

  • Membership sign up
  • What we offer
  • Contact us

Site

  • Site map
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of use
  • Terms of business for membership

© Copyright 2021 Community Action Hampshire

Community Action Hampshire (trading as Action Hampshire and Action Portsmouth) is registered in England and Wales as a charity (no. 1053806) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 3162873)