The Big Society

should be encouraged. It should be about valuing what exists in communities and promoting it, rebuilding structures that have become damaged and decayed and inspiring hope in those who need it most.

But the idea that some initiative can be driven voluntarily within communities at no financial cost, or with minimal investment, is naive. We have to consider that there are divisions in society.

Some will say we will always have rich and poor. Yet recent governments have tried to tackle poverty and the many thousands trapped in a lifestyle that barely allows them the basics.

We need to be conscious of benefit fraud, but we should also consider the bigger picture and not lose sight of the real victims.

Many individuals, families and communities have one thing in common, a life of poverty and low income denying them opportunity. Promoting what is good or missing from society is very important, creating a culture of responsibility, building initiative and helping those whose expectation is not to achieve to have confidence in their own ability.

But for this to work there must be a genuine attempt to target investment to giving those most in need a real chance in life.

Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe, Durham.