Appearing here, in reverse chronological order, are posts that presented evidence to support NCIA’s perspectives, alongside views and opinions about the changes that were taking place over the period of our work.
A personal view from Peter Bird, Coordinator of Fulham Good Neighbour Service
The Council’s Proposals
Hammersmith & Fulham Council have recently published a consultation document on their strategy for the third sector. Their definition of the third sector being all organisations that define themselves as voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises, and mutuals or … Continue reading
The ‘Duty to Involve’ or the ‘Duty to be Involved’: who is involving who and why would you care?
The Duty to Involve is now with us – how does it feel to be ‘involved’? Have citizens up and down the country been writing to their local press in an upsurge of local debate and … Continue reading
The Ministry of Justice deals in “democratic engagement” and explores “how to harness new ways of engaging”, while the Improvement and Development Agency talks about “community empowerment and engagement”.
Head of News at the Local Government Association (LGA), Richard Stokoe says “engaging” is simply a grand way of talking or listening to people. “As far … Continue reading
The latest product of the Baring Foundation’s programme on ‘Strengthening the Voluntary Sector – Independence’ provides yet more evidence of the emasculation of voluntary action as an independent actor on the policy stage and a distinctive voice for social justice by Government, not just in England but in the other countries of the UK, in … Continue reading
This is the latest hare to have been set running by Government and the Commission on Integration and Cohesion. It’s a policy which encourages funders to cut money to groups working with marginalised peoples, particularly those from secular black and minority ethnic groups such as Southall Black Sisters – while at the same time encouraging … Continue reading
As a “lefty American” traversing the ground of the voluntary sector in the UK, I have often had a strange mixture of feelings:
Professionals of my vintage – my career started in the Beatles’ era – have lived and worked through some revolutionary changes in the lives of people with learning disabilities. We have gone a long way towards the abolition of isolated and isolating ‘institutional’ provision. We are all person centred. We protect peoples’ rights and safeguard … Continue reading
Surely I cannot be the only community activist to see what’s happening? In fact I know I’m not. So why, oh why, is there so little fuss about it?
Today, I logged on, and there it was as usual. Invitations to participate in this and that forum pedantically plodding their way through the verbiage of … Continue reading
An Unservile Society – It’s time for the voluntary sector to get political