The Big Society idea is a really interesting one, particularly for the voluntary sector. I think it could represent a change of direction for organisations like Groundwork and potentially provide a platform for real change.

I do have one or two caveats though. To get communities really involved in decision-making, poorer neighbourhoods will require a significant degree of support. Trusted intermediaries are crucial or we risk entrenching inequality further as the ‘sharp elbowed’ ensure they take full advantage, leaving those lacking the capacity and skills to make a contribution even further behind.

Resource will be needed to make this happen, which some of the rhetoric of the last few weeks and months fails to recognise. Yet if that resource is found and invested in ensuring the Big Society offer is universal, then we could start to see huge benefits for the community. For example, improving the local environment has been shown to be a powerful vehicle for motivating people to act together in the interests of their wider community. Could this mark the first genuine shift towards sustainable living?

So after four days of negotiations we finally have a new government - made up of a Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition. 

I welcome this new approach to politics.  To really tackle the issues facing the country a true spirit of partnership has to bind this new coalition government together.  Consensus building is central to Groundwork's approach to disadvantaged communities and our experience shows that by working together with a broad base of partners it is possible to secure meaningful and sustainable solutions to the most difficult of challenges.

Making change happen is all about engaging people- it's great to see an emphasis on team work and cooperation at a national as well as a local level.

The long awaited election is finally upon us. Gordon Brown has christened it 'the people's election' which should be stating the obvious - but it does sum up the feeling that far from being bored by politics, people are engaging in it like never before. Critics will point to the fact that its is a negative engagement - MPs expenses have angered people so much that they are taking up arms against the corrupt - and there is certainly widespread disillusionment with the political process. Yet with voter turnout forecast to be high, people are using their vote to express their opinions and that can only be good for democracy.

With this newly politicised electorate the new government, no matter what the colour or colours, will not get much of a honeymoon. Encouraged by the main parties, voters want more from their politicians and there will be an expectation that a new administration will listen to people's needs and take action. My hope is that whichever party/ies win that they capitalise on this interest in local politics by engaging people in issues that affect them. Getting people involved in local public services has long been an aim of all the main parties and now is the perfect time to build on this new found motivation. People have made it clear that they are unhappy with the old system and want to establish a new way of doing things. The time is right to get people engaged. Third sector organisations like Groundwork are well placed to act as an intermediary and offer the support required to give people a voice. Otherwise only the loudest will get heard.

If we can harness people's interest in decisions that affect them and, crucially, show them they are being listened to, then the election will have achieved something even more valuable than deciding our new government.

Watching the third prime ministerial debate, the focus was, of course, more about what they are cutting spending on rather than how they will move economic recovery into second gear. I'm surprised but pleased that none of the parties are proposing to cut the winter fuel allowance at this time. We're really concerned about fuel poverty and it's a shocking statistic that there are (increasing) millions of people spending such a high proportion of their income on keeping warm that they can't afford other basics like food. We must, however, recognise that the fuel allowance is a short term fix. We would be better spending the billions that it costs on helping people make their homes better insulated so that they can reduce their energy use - and their bills. Whatever your view on climate change - I have gone from sceptic to strong believer - the fact is that we must do better at preserving our finite sources of energy.

This connects directly to the question on rebuilding our economy so it is better equipped for the challenges of the future. All candidates ticked the boxes - green infrastructure, green entrepreneurship, apprenticeships, investing in young people, skills for the future. New green technology got a good mention as well. That's fine but I wish politicians would understand that green growth is not just about high tech jobs - there's plenty of entry level roles out there providing employment in a socially useful, low carbon economy. What about recycling workers, land management workers, home retrofitters, energy efficiency advisers? Let's invest in those as well as the offshore wind farms. The economic, social and environmental benefits are potentially huge.

The main parties have all published their green manifestos - although why these shouldn't form part of their main election pledges I'm not sure. Policies which concentrate on green growth should be the backbone of economic recovery, not an add on.

Reading through them I'm struck by how much our environmental focus has changed since the last election. We used to talk about the importance of green space to our health and well-being. Now our attention is on green jobs and apprenticeships, low carbon economy stimulus packages, improved energy efficiency. Perhaps its a measure of how much more integrated environmental considerations have become to human activity - a result of climate change - and as a green charity we are very supportive of that.

But let's not forget that the environment can also mean a community garden, a local park, play area, or an allotment space. Places that can also bring people together, connect people with nature, provide a space for quiet contemplation and which improve our quality of life in a myriad of different ways. Political parties need to keep these on their radar. Let's fly the flag for green space as well as green policy.

Watching the second leaders’ debate and pleased to see climate change has finally got a mention. David Cameron talked about his green deal. Nick Clegg reiterated his party’s commitment to a programme of ‘mass’ insulation installation. Great – we’ve been saying for some time that the economies of scale mean that targeting one house here, another three streets away is pointless. Gordon Brown countered by pointing out that his Future Jobs Fund programme is engaged in training young people up to do just that - it is and we are, in partnership with British Gas.

The important point to remember though, is that without accompanying action on behaviour change, energy efficiency measures will not have any real impact. We need to help people understand how their lifestyles affect the environment – and as a trusted community organisation that has been working in neighbourhoods for more than twenty years, trusted community organisations like Groundwork are well placed to do so.

I see that the climate change debate between Ed Miliband, Greg Clark and Simon Hughes caused plenty of animated discussion last night. As you might expect, any passing similarities in green issues amongst election manifestos were swiftly demolished. Although discussion ranged onto nuclear and wind farms – slightly out of Groundwork’s experience – central to the debate was the question of government intervention.

 I believe government must play a role in kickstarting green growth. We are big supporters of green jobs and have created thousands of temporary posts for the Future Jobs Fund and Community Task Force programmes. Yet we find that once the six months experience is up, there are still relatively small numbers of permanent green jobsout there, despite bringing benefits to the community and the environment. Enterprise can certainly rise to the challenge of creating the jobs but, in order to do so, businesses must have confidence that the market will be there. This requires a strong signal from government, in particular greater support for and encouragement of the retrofitting of existing homes. Without that signal,we will continue to struggle to realise the economic, environmental and social benefits of something where the UK should be leading the world.

Employment figures are out and Gordon Brown and Yvette Cooper meet some of our Future Jobs Fund employees. He’s put through his paces by a Q&A with the young people who, as you’d expect, have strong views they want the Prime Minister to hear. But on the whole they are really pleased with the support they’ve received - several have gone on to get a job. It’s great to see such young people who are so optimistic and I think we all felt quite inspired with their motivation and positivity. Certainly not an egg in sight.

I see the LibDems have today announced plans to identify £3.1 bn of public spending that can be used to create jobs and protect the environment - with one of the measures proposed being an ‘Eco-cashback scheme’ to give people £400 towards energy efficient home improvements and small energy generation projects.

This would certainly be a step in the right direction, but one thing conspicuous by its absence from the announcement is any specific mention of how householders will be encouraged to take up these measures. Our Ipsos-Mori commissioned research has shown us they would prefer independent advisers to set out their options and help them implement them as opposed to organisations who might have a vested interest. Let’s not have another shiny new scheme gather dust on the shelf because we haven’t thought how to let as many people as possible know it’s there, and then get them to sign up to doing it.

Along with most of the rest of the population I was glued to the TV last night watching the leaders' debates. It was fascinating and perhaps a real turning point for the LibDems.

I was interested in Nick Clegg's comments about preventing a young offender developing into an adult criminal.  Amongst the discussion on the economy and job losses this election, we haven't heard much about tackling youth crime and anti-social behaviour.  Working with young people who are leaving prison to involve them in their communities, develop skills, gather work experience and set them on the road to employment is a big step towards stopping them reoffending. Groundwork's New Horizons programme is doing just that - helping young people to escape the vicious cycle of crime.