ABSTRACT
It is the author’s contention that an abundance of voluntary action outside the citizen’s home, both individually and collectively, for bettering his own and his fellows’ lives, are the distinguishing marks of a truly free society. This volume is a study of how such action can be kept alive in the face of the inevitable development of State action and suggests the new forms which co-operation between the State and voluntary Organizations may take, leaving a maximum of freedom and responsibility to the individual.
Voluntary Action is a text of unique value because Beveridge here develops his vision of how a large ‘voluntary action’ sector could function as a type of buffer zone between the state and the market.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part |99 pages
The Mutual Aid Motive in Action
chapter |42 pages
The Friendly Societies
chapter |22 pages
The State and the Friendly Societies
chapter |33 pages
Mutual Aid in Other Forms
part |95 pages
The Philanthropic Motive in Action
chapter |32 pages
The Voluntary Social Services and their Development
chapter |34 pages
A Chapter of Pioneers
chapter |27 pages
Charitable Trusts
part |73 pages
The Needs that Remain in a Social Service State
chapter |9 pages
The Changing Environment of Voluntary Action
chapter |42 pages
Some Special Needs That Remain
chapter |20 pages
Some General Needs that Remain
part |36 pages
Conclusion and Recommendations