Go to NCIA publications and research if you’re looking for an introduction to independent action or some evidence about why we need to challenge commissioning, privatisation, cuts and the ‘big society’ campaign. Our newsletter is the best way to keep informed about what’s happening in the world of voluntary and community action. Or if you want to help us define the language we use, check out our brave new speak wiki. Happy 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
Read the summary of our new paper on privatisation, including the related topics of cuts, localism and the ‘big society’. This is just the start of setting out our views. Please let us know what you think and help us spark a proper debate about cuts, commissioning, competition and how to protect independent action … Continue reading
Our new NCIA leaflet sets out why it’s important now, more than ever, to unite in independent voluntary and community action. Please email info@independentaction.net if you’d like some copies to give out at events.… Continue reading
What words of wisdom would you give a new wave of activists who have started to fight cuts across the UK?
NCIA was invited to help with one of the workshops at the Netroots conference in London on 8 January 2010. Around 35 people came to the session on countering the cuts in your area. … Continue reading
Just Wage campaign calls on Unite members. In 2010, the UK’s biggest trades union UNITE will hold elections for the post of General Secretary – their most senior elected officer. Just Wage is asking the candidates in this election to commit to:
1. a just wage within their organisations and
2. support for a campaign … Continue reading
Sean Creighton lists the questions to ask local politicians on their apparent interest in community action, and highlights the gap between rhetoric and practice.
“A key element in the Party political battle leading up to May’s local and national elections was over developing a new role for community and voluntary organisations in running services and … Continue reading
Ideas from some local voluntary groups to balance certainty with uncertainty so you might survive the impact of external economic and political factors and your ability to respond to community needs.
What’s most important to do?
Whatever your place, temperament or interests here’s a fantastic list of all the things we can do, individually or together, which can have an effect on the status quo. From silence to boycotts, stalling to singing, letters and petitions, from prayer to skydiving and rude gestures – there’s something for everyone here. It’s from Gene … Continue reading
Want to resist being told what to do as well as how to do it? Check out NCIA’s latest pamphlet “Managing for Independence”, which sets out what’s going wrong in managing voluntary agencies, what we want to see instead, and what we can do to make this happen. Use it to spark a debate … Continue reading
Just Wage is a campaign for lowering income gaps through the use of fixed salary ratios, with a special eye on voluntary sector wages. And if ever such a campaign was needed, now’s the time. So NCIA has signed up and will be offering support where it can. Check their blog out and do the … Continue reading