BBC experts’ commentary.

SOCIAL ACTION

Original coalition agreement pledges:

• Support the creation and expansion of mutuals, co-operatives, charities and social enterprises
• Public sector workers to form co-operatives and take over delivery of services
• Encourage volunteering and charitable giving
• Introduce National Citizen Service
• Found a Big Society bank to finance local charities and social enterprises

What coalition says it’s achieved:

• “Big Society Capital” in place, funded by high street banks and money from dormant accounts
• More than 8,400 people have taken part in a pilot of the National Citizen Service
• 12,000 ATMs now enable people to donate to charity while withdrawing cash
• Charities now able to claim Gift Aid-style payments on small cash donations

Labour’s verdict on coalition so far:

• Big Society policy “mired in confusion”, having been relaunched five times
• Changes to tax relief on charitable given – which were abandoned – would have had “serious” detrimental impact on charities

Coalition’s mid-term ‘to do’ list:

• 5,000 community organisers to be recruited in deprived communities
• Expand the ATM charitable giving scheme
• Publish consultation on encouraging workplace payroll donations
• Gift Aid to be simplified through use of online claims

BBC political reporter Justin Parkinson says: While it has faced criticism from charities for “glacially slow” progress, David Cameron’s Big Society project is deemed to be doing well, with the audit saying thousands of hours of community service have been completed, charity donations encouraged and £400m from dormant accounts going to help projects. The promise to allow mutuals and co-operatives more involvement in running public services is described as being at a more provisional stage.

SOCIAL CARE AND DISABILITY

Original coalition agreement pledges:

• Commission to report on long-term care
• Direct payments for carers
• Disabled people to be able to apply for jobs with funding secured for new equipment, if required

What coalition says it’s achieved:

• Support in principle for Dilnot Commission on long-term care
• More funding for adult social care
• NHS funding to help carers receive breaks

Labour’s verdict on coalition so far:

• Funding for older people’s care cut by £1.4bn
• Delay over Dilnot review means no change before 2015
• Insufficient provision of care in the community or at home, costing NHS hundreds of millions of pounds

Coalition’s mid-term ‘to do’ list:

• Consult on protecting services where providers fail
• Make access to care more consistent
• Universal deferred payments scheme to ensure no-one has to sell their homes to fund care
• Enshrine in law entitlement to personal care budget

BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle says: The coalition said it was making reform of social care a priority when it came to power – just as Tony Blair did when he took up office. The only difference is that it looks like they might follow through. For the past 18 months the focus has been on introducing a cap on the costs the elderly face for home help and care home places. At the moment all but the poorest face unlimited costs. It now seems likely a cap of £75,000 over a lifetime will be set. This is much higher than what an independent review proposed, but campaigners are just grateful reform looks like it will finally happen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20969492