It’s another blow to the independence of the community sector as massive contracts go to private companies, writes Andy Benson.
This month sees the beginning of the government’s new Work Programme. Leaving aside views about where this latest attempt to harness the skills of the workless comes from or is likely to go, the programme … 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
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
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. 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
“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
Here’s the latest discussions of the NCIA Planning Group (18.5.10), where we reported on what we’re up to and had a special session on voluntary action, public services and cuts and what we do about it.
If you want to be part of these discussions, join the NCIA Assembly by getting in contact with us. … Continue reading
TREATMENT IN TODAY’S NHS
This is what treatment is like in an NHS hospital today
This is what happened to my sister in a semi-privatised, squeezed by New Labour and Margaret Thatcher, we’re so proud of our standard of excellence we are applying for Foundation Hospital status hospital
This is what happened to my sister, … Continue reading
