AS David Cameron has just relaunched his Big Society idea, I feel compelled to shed light on this forward-thinking idea.

Firstly, how is the voluntary sector coping? The Big Society is supposed to be nurturing voluntary organisations, yet a quick trawl of the web can find 34 voluntary organisations in Yorkshire that are suffering major cuts in funding (eg £80,000 from York CVS) thanks to the Conservative-led coalition.

We have a Big Society Bank to make up this shortfall, says Mr Cameron. However, the bank is just that; a bank. Lending at business rates to voluntary organisations in order to make a profit.

Surely profiting from voluntary organisations is morally wrong? Those in the know, such as the Charities Aid Foundation, state that many organisations cannot afford to borrow from the bank of Cameron. Big Society? I can think of other ways to describe this smoke-and-mirrors scheme.

Ben Tanguay, Labour candidate for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Garden Court, Acomb, York.

• LAST week, I attended the ward committee meeting where we were given a very good presentation about the Big Society initiative and how it was being planned for York.

Not that I am sure we all understood it, but it was pleasing to hear that the pilot scheme being run in six wards was to be financed by using the salary from a vacant post.

However, it would have been even better if we had also been assured that if the pilot were successful, it would be financed for less cost than is currently spent by the council on similar projects and that there would then be a net reduction in cost to the taxpayers.

Obviously, at this time we should be looking at whatever means possible to reduce expenditure, with the minimum loss of staff, without starting on new initiatives.

A Dixon, Coggan Way, Bishopthorpe, York.

• TALKING to a neighbour the other day and discussing the Big Society, whatever that is, I said I will be £150 a year or approximately 43 pence a day better off under the terms and conditions of this Government. And not forgetting Mr Terry Smith, who broke this news.

Now this newfound wealth is causing me a few sleepless nights. Should I spend, spend, spend or save for the bare necessities? The latter wins, so 20 pence a day goes on the hike in utility bills.

Another 15 pence should cover the cost of my pay freeze and three per cent rise in pension contributions and not forgetting National Insurance.

As I gaze into my crystal ball, another four pence goes to the increase of my mortgage, which will rise in the summer.

I seem to be running out of money, but three pence may cover the rise in petrol, food and not forgetting the VAT on cat food. I have two cats, may have put one down (only joking).

That leaves one pence. I will save this and treat myself to a haircut, where I can have an intelligent conversation about sport, politics, whatever.

Anybody know a good hairdresser?

Bob Hayes, Rydal Avenue, Burnholme, York.