The presented publication is an attempt to present the image of social policy implemented by local governments, with particular emphasis on the problems of small municipalities, including mining municipalities in the Silesian Voivodeship. The author presents problems related to the implementation of social policy goals and tasks of local communities on the background of the conceptual and legal determinants of the functioning of the commune self-government. Various conditions and difficulties in solving social problems, as well as cooperation with the third sector are the main subject of the analysis. The considerations contained in the publication are a result of the author's many years of experience, a result of confronting theoretical concepts with the realities and practice of the Polish social policy system on the local scale.