NCIA assembly: Putting the politics back into voluntary action

Thursday 27 January 2011, 1.30pm to 5pm
Quaker Meeting House, 10 St James Street, Sheffield S1 2EW

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!

At the last NCIA assembly we discussed … Continue reading

Government has no business running civil society

Government has no business running civil society. And voluntary agencies have no business running public services. NCIA’s Peter Bird talks with trade unionists

Cameron’s ‘big society’ is a front for cuts, privatisation, the exploitation of labour and good will, and undermining trade unions. Peter explains….. The other morning I heard the Chief Executive of a … Continue reading

Small can be beautiful

Here’s a new paper from NCIA member Adrian Barritt who highlights the fundamental choices that CVSs must make to respond to cuts and the Big Society Show. Adrian argues that joining up into bigger structures, which appears be the developing response, will undermine people’s ability to be locally rooted, self reliant, creative and flexible. The … Continue reading

Challenging Times – lobbying local politicians at a time of cuts

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

Big Society – a fig leaf for privatisation and cuts

“Only governments can provide adequate basic public services” …..Here’s what Bernard Davies from NCIA said of the Big Idea coming out of the other Coalition, when he talked to North West community activists at their conference in Manchester in September 2010.

“My starting point for the Big Society unashamedly looks at its political and economic … Continue reading

Do or die – how to survive cuts and recession

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?

  • as far as practical, plan for the different possible scenarios and their consequences
  • within a clear view of what
Continue reading