The Vision Project

SOCIAL
EXCLUSION:
ADDRESSING THE
CAUSES NOT JUST
THE SYMPTOMS
WRITTEN BY JOHN TIZARD
John is a strategic adviser and commentator on public policy, governance, leadership and public services.
He is a social activist and serves as chair and trustee on several charity and CIC boards.
If we are serious about reducing and
ideally eliminating social exclusion, we
need to understand what causes it...
We should be prepared to tackle these causes and
only not provide some mitigation to its impact. Too
often civil society and voluntary and community
sector (VCS) organisations do a remarkable job
at dealing with the symptoms, offering relief and
hope, while they shy away from openly discussing
the causes; let alone the politics that usually
underly these causes.
Poverty, inequality, lack of decent and accessible
public services, inadequate public transport, the
welfare and benefits system and lack of good
housing are some of the major contributors
to social exclusion. Austerity has fuelled social
inequality and social exclusion in many ways.
Sometimes the political system fails to address
social exclusion and reinforce it. Too few socially
excluded people are politically active and cynical
politicians may feel that they can ignore them.
This is simply unacceptable.
I believe most activists in the VCS and wider civil
society are passionate about equality, fairness
and equity. They celebrate diversity. They wish to
address and usually to eradicate social exclusion,
but they fall short of challenging public policy,
fiscal and tax policy and the structural contributors
to social exclusion. This is a mistake.
Social action is driven by compassion and a desire
to secure better outcomes, and often better
opportunities and a better society. Compassion is a
great motivator for social activists and those active
in the voluntary and community sector, and almost
everyone I meet in the sector demonstrates such,
in as much as they display their passion for social
justice, equality and fairness.
This is fantastic, but the hard fact is that
compassion is not enough on its own if we are to
offer support and opportunities to communities.
Equally, passion is a fabulous attribute and
essential for anyone seeking to secure change and
to motivate others. Yet it does not automatically
translate into practical action and, again, on its own
will not address need, inequality and injustice.
Social activism has contributed to
addressing some major injustices over
the centuries.
Indeed, social activists have frequently been
instrumental in securing change for the better,
sometimes massive change at the national or even
international level, but more often achieved in
neighbourhoods and localities.
However, to make an impact, social activism
must take the form of action. This might involve
stepping in and providing services to those with
unmet needs and those who are socially excluded.
It can take the form of advocacy (for an individual
or community) to ensure that they receive what
they are entitled to. It might manifest itself in
campaigning for changes in public policy or
legislation. And it could have a local, regional,
national or international focus.
The challenge to the VCS and the wider civil society
at all territorial levels is that they must be ready to
address both the symptoms and the causes of social
and economic injustice and exclusion.
Often, the sector is at its best when it adopts
a two-strand approach. For example, the food
bank movement has been a practical response to
need, while at the same time challenging public
policies such as the Universal Credit five-week
delay and the horror of in-work poverty: action on
two levels. The VCS must be careful not to give
cover for poor and inadequate public services
and appalling damaging public policy through
its provision of ameliorating services. This is both
unsustainable and allows those in power to avoid
their responsibilities and accountabilities.
The sector must not simply pass on the other
side when there are gaps to be filled or policies
requiring challenge, or structural inequalities to be
overturned. Compassion, passion and, above all,
action can combine to make a difference in the
immediate and the long term.
Many voluntary and community groups, and other
charities, were created to respond to injustice and
need. We should be proud of this inheritance and
live its values today.
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THE VISION PROJECT