Big Society demands more charities

AS a former assistant charity commissioner and a current trustee of a local charity, might I suggest that before writing anything more about the charitable sector, David Craig should look beyond mere statistics and whatever political agenda he may be following and consider that removing charities from English (and Welsh) society would be rather like removing the mortar from a brick wall, so inter-woven is the voluntary sector within the life of our community (Yorkshire Post, August 12)..

The charities which form the bulk of the register are, after all, local affairs conceived and run by local people for the benefit of their communities. Not because they have to, but because they want to (and because Good Queen Bess in her wisdom made it possible for them to do so without government interference). Examples include village halls, playgroups, youth groups, brass bands and all kinds of charities for the relief of poverty, the furtherance of religion and the provision of education.

The Big Society demands more, not fewer charities, Mr Craig.

Vulnerable Miliband

From: John Fisher, Mount Bark Farm, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

THE struggle for Ed Miliband and Labour to find new ideas has not been helped by the actions of their leader when he opposed almost all the programme presented by the coalition Government.

Since this programme is now showing some signs of economic recovery, the public could be forgiven for assuming that the Labour alternative would have been a disaster. With no apparent credible ideas to put forward, Ed Miliband is looking very vulnerable. The lack of New Labour ideas capable of inspiring the electorate could in turn create the demand for a new leader. Perhaps the lesson for the opposition is don’t reject every part of the Government’s programme unless you have a credible alternative for future use.

High price of management

From: TW Coxon, West Auckland Road, Darlington, County Durham.

ISN’T it disgusting that Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS trust chief executive Karen Jackson (Yorkshire Post, August 14)is awarded a £25,000 pay rise for failure, and for the chairman of that Trust to say it is needed to retain high calibre people? Well, if this is the outcome from his high calibre staff then God help us all in the future.

How long must the British public have to put up with these shocking procurement policies, unsatisfactory money management – and mismanagement in general?

It seems to me, and millions of others, that the NHS is in its death throes. I only hope I do not have to attend the funeral, but after a working lifetime in the health service spanning 40 years, I fear the worst.

Drain on
our resources

From: ME Wright, Grove Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

WHILE sharing Marjorie Gill’s praise for the work carried out by water companies in recent years (Yorkshire Post, August 15), let us not forget that it was funded by us through hugely increased bills.

If that is the price to be paid for a healthy and reliable supply, then so be it. However, I understand that each time we fill our kettles, we make a compulsory contribution, for the benefit of Yorkshire Water shareholders. That does nothing to improve the taste of my numerous cups of Yorkshire Gold.

Southern bias revealed again

From: Christine Woodhouse, Deneside, Ossett, West Yorkshire.

WHAT a disgrace that Gary Verity, who deserves a knighthood for the sterling work he does for Welcome to Yorkshire, appears to have been sidelined by the southern politicians and their quangos.

The excitement of winning Yorkshire’s Grand Départ is felt all over the county. The Londoners got the Olympics last year and how much money was spent on that? Yet again they try to keep the northerners in their place. They don’t want others to appreciate the beauty of Yorkshire, the friendliness of the people and want them to stick to the belief that the North really is desolate only fit for fracking.

An insult to fans and city

From William Wilkie, Woodside, Ganton, North Yorkshire.

So Martin Fletcher (Yorkshire Post, August 14), does not agree with the attitude of some supporters of Hull City AFC who have objected to the recently announced name change.

However, there was no need to insult not just those fans, but also the city itself, its inhabitants, the players contracted to the club and those yet to be signed (ironically, two from his Tottenham on the day his letter appeared), and the FA. He even manages only grudging acceptance of the possibility of Bristol and Liverpool being cities when the latter rates above Manchester in terms of population and Bristol only one place below.

He states that you need three generations to be accepted here (presumably in Yorkshire), but he does not have this qualification.

I would suggest that his own arrogance could be the reason for non-acceptance. If he truly wants acceptance, then he should join his three generations in the graveyard, wherever that may be. Incidentally, as a Hull City fan since 1947, I admit to disappointment at the name change. AFC, RLFC and RUFC distinguish the three footballing codes played.