Fighting poverty, more cuts, disability rights, silencing dissent, privatisation, turning voluntary groups into sub-contractors, abandoning whole communities…… how can community action deal with this tsunami? These are some of the themes that will be explored at:
‘Protecting Democracy: independent community action in North East England’
Thursday 16th July (10am – 4pm)
At: Alington House … Continue reading
NCIA Transition Roadshows – Meet… Discuss… Debate…Act…
The NCIA Transition ‘roadshow’ is about to start. The first three are happening in Sheffield, Durham and Brighton, each organised by a local host in collaboration with NCIA. This is part of NCIA’s transition and goodbye handshake in its current form. Book your place directly with the local … Continue reading
In the year since Keep Volunteering Voluntary launched, over 550 charities and voluntary groups have pledged to turn their backs on workfare. Together we are highlighting the value of volunteering and building a strong consensus that responsible voluntary organisations will not take part in workfare schemes and put people at risk of devastating welfare sanctions. … Continue reading
Wheels for Wellbeing, established in 2007 is a disabled-led organisation aiming to ensure that disabled people can cycle where they want, when they want. It is based in Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon and mainly serves south London though its provision is open to all in the capital and offers a cross-London network for coordination and … Continue reading
What happens when charities and voluntary groups are asked by Government to punish unemployed people and take away legal entitlements? In April 2014, the “Help to Work” programme was launched by Government. It consists of no help and no work. Instead, it continued previous policies that withhold unemployment benefits, unless those entitled to such benefits … Continue reading
Conditions for private renters – now a bigger group than those renting ‘socially’ from the council or a housing association – have become so bad that a new wave of housing activist groups has begun to form. Since the deregulation of private renting in 1989, when rent control and long-term tenancies were done away with, … Continue reading
G4S is the biggest winner of “Help to Work” contracts, the latest workfare programme which started yesterday. G4S is currently under investigation for fraud. As part of this contract G4S will seek placements in voluntary groups, which will be responsible for reporting claimants for benefit sanctions if they fail to comply with the placement.
Make a new year resolution – add your name to the list of NCIA signatories and help to build a
public show of alternative voices. People who are ready to act with self-determination for justice and equality. To hold to account, the State and other powerful political, business and financial interests. Help us gather as … Continue reading
Inequality and poverty is increasing in the UK. Policies that cut rights and entitlements, and dismantle and privatise public services, make this worse. Voluntary and community agencies cannot be silent on this. They must speak out and act alongside those campaigning to stop this damage. It is the job of charities to fight poverty and … Continue reading
NCIA is organising a free event to discuss the implications of its Inquiry into Local Activism and Dissent, Here We Stand at 170 Community Project, 170 New Cross Road, SE14 on 22 July 2013 7-9 pm (networking and refreshments from 6.30 pm).
Book onto the event here.
You’ll find out about the Inquiry findings. … Continue reading