Working with ‘below the radar’ (‘BTR’) groups - do they have anything to offer the Big Society?

Pauline Whitehead PILCM

Clerk to Cranleigh Parish Council

Student Number S0612060

Cranleigh, Surrey

Source:-Cranleigh Village

Website (2012)

What is a ‘BTR’ group?

“ those groups or activities that are ‘unregulated’, semi-formal associations. These activities or organisations do not appear in databases held by the Charities Commission, Companies House, the Registrar of Community Interest Companies or Guidestar.”

MacGillivray et al. (2001)

Resources….

FUNDING and RESOURCESplay a part in defining BTRs.

Why study ‘BTR’ groups?

Photographs: Whitehead

‘BTR’ groups constitute 95% of community based organisations

5% community groups with incomes above £2,000 and registered

95% groups with annual income of under £2,000 and unregistered….‘BTR’ Groups

Breakdown of community groups in the UK

Big Society

“Will be created by community groups, social entrepreneurs and practitioners who will help make it a reality on the ground”

DCLG (Online: 2011)

How did I research ‘BTR’ groups in Cranleigh?

Existing lists, websites, local publications, by looking on local notice boards and visiting community meeting places.

Sending out a structured questionnaire. Interviewing local people.

How many community groups are there in Cranleigh?

101 initially identified

200 and counting!!!!!

How many are ‘BTR’?

46% of the respondents to the questionnaires were unregistered.

54% were registered.

‘BTR’ groups offer….Practical skills Cranleigh Angling Society look after two areas of local water for the benefit of the community and those who would like to fish. Young people learn skills for the future.

Picture: Cranleigh Angling Society

Picture:Cranleigh Angling.

Access to resourcesCommunity groups have the ability to

raise funds for local charities. Picture:Cranleigh website

Local knowledge and adviceCommunity groups are able to identify where there are local issues and act on them.Picture:Cranlei

gh pictures

Membership of ‘BTR’ community groups in Cranleigh

BTR groups have membership numbers ranging from 4 to 200.

Analysis of 'BTR' group membership

0

50

100

150

200

250Active Cranleigh

Brit Monach League

Cran Angling Soc

Cran Art & Craft

Cran Basketball

Cran Camera Club

Cran Comm Choir

Cran Comm Fund

Cran Theatre Arts

Cran Hist Soc

Cran Model Rail

Cran Sunflow ers

Cran Table Tennis

Valendar Friendship

Cran Conservation

Probus B

Semur Tw inning

Elmbridge Allot

Friendship Group

Cran Bell Ringers

Cran Polo Club

Life Draw ing Club

Are ‘BTR’ groups transient?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120Some groups in Cranleigh have been established over 100 years.Others are brought together specifically for one project and then move on.

Social needsPeople like to do ‘fun’ things in their spare time. 60% of Cranleigh’s ‘BTR’ groups are associated with culture, leisure and sport.

Culture and LeisureSportFund raisingAnimal welfareEconomic wellbeingEducation

Drivers

People join things to make a difference.They are often motivated by issues which

anger them and often join groups which can influence outcomes (Leach 2006)

Trust

Do community groups provide a valuable service or are they just filling in the gaps caused by spending cuts?

Social equality

Affluent areas may have more skills and more volunteers. Less wealthy areas could be at a disadvantage (McCabe et al 2010)

Conclusion Cranleigh has over 200 identified

community groups and potentially around half of these are ‘BTR’.

Community groups are well patronised, can offer a variety of skill sets, can access resources and have local knowledge.

And…..

…..some ‘BTR’ groups in Cranleigh are already working collaboratively with the Parish Council for the benefit of the community.

Any comments

or questions?

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