Listen to a podcast of NCIA’s Andy Benson speaking about whether there’s enough power to go around in the voluntary and community sector at the ARVAC annual lecture on 9 May 2011. You can also download a transcript of Andy’s presentation (Word, 6 pages) and the presentation slides (Powerpoint).… Continue reading
Manchester group The Art Corner are organising a funeral procession for the loss of our public services, to take place on the day of the royal wedding (29th April). They will have five coffins decorated with wreaths spelling out NHS, Education, Immigration, The Arts and Welfare. Participants will dress in black and march solemnly down … Continue reading
Cuts, privatising public services, commissioning replacing grants, voluntary agencies being run like businesses, managers who don’t understand the front line work, nonsensical targets… If you’re feeling angry, you’re not alone! Join us at the next NCIA assembly in Manchester on Thursday 12 May 2011 to discuss issues affecting you. Book now.
NICA assembly
Thursday … Continue reading
Who creates, controls and measures knowledge in the voluntary and community sector? What role is played by service users and volunteers, universities, voluntary sector organisations and umbrella organisations such as NCVO? Join NCIA’s Andy Benson at the ARVAC annual lecture in London on 9 May 2011 to explore these questions and more.
Association of Research … Continue reading
NCIA’s Bernard Davies will be leading a session at a conference looking at the considerable challenges youth work is facing as whole services are closed down and some of the most distinctive approaches are threatened. Staws in the wind is on 24 May 2011 in Leicester.
Drawing on the findings from a modest inquiry into … Continue reading
People are being urged to boycott the 2011 Census, being run by arms dealers and defence contractors CACI and Lockheed Martin. CACI, the Scottish agents, are said to have interrogated prisoners at Abu Graibh – and now they want to ask us a few questions. Check out Ethical Census for the Scottish campaign. On a … Continue reading
The issue that has, by far and away, put the national gossips in a tizzy has been the award of the £15M community organisers contract to Locality, the pseudo-business quango formed by the merger of Bassac and the Development Trust Association. Expected by all (including Locality) to go to the Citizens Organising Foundation (which at … Continue reading
So spring approaches, bringing with it killer cuts and growing popular opposition. We think it’s time to take sides. Read the latest newsletter for some inspiring stories of direct action, critical analysis and to find out who’s already come off the fence in the world of voluntary and community action…… Continue reading
NCIA urges eveyone who wants to protect the welfare state and close the gap between haves and have nots to make your way to London this Saturday. There’s some sensible advice about how to get there, at what time, and what to bring (food, water, waterproofs) on the march for the alternative website. Read on … Continue reading
Despite talk about a ‘big society’, two new case studies show that small community organisations are still expected to comply with over-complex tendering processes and evaluation systems that fail to value their local knowledge and independence.
The case studies show how independent action has been undermined in youth work and how people on the frontline … Continue reading