Learning from the Bad Guys
As a “lefty American” traversing the ground of the voluntary sector in the UK, I have often had a strange mixture of feelings:
- a déjà vu experience of seeing very recognizable developments from the US in the 1990s being repeated here: at the behest of a governing party hewing to the perceived center (here the Labourites, in the US Clinton and Democrats), advancing policy prescriptions that rely upon “public choice” economics, privatisation of public services, faith-based approaches, charitable entrepreneurialism, public-private partnerships, and so on
- some envy and admiration of the greater cohesiveness of the UK social sector, which is far more “joined-up”, in terms of general public acceptance of an ethic of social service, and better success in aligning the work of public and voluntary sectors. The decentralization of American service structures means that many examples of progressive, excellent public/voluntary service regimes can be found at state and local levels. Yet most American progressives would gladly take the social, educational and health regimes in the UK over their own.
Institutions of the Mind
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 them. We ensure that they have a voice in their own affairs and in the nature of services provided to them. We are in the process of enabling them to self-direct and organise their own support arrangements. We are all committed to the their entitlement to pursue ordinary lives. Read more
A call to arms – only we can choose
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?
The Quiet Death of the Rights Movement
It’s time to get political
An Unservile Society – It’s time for the voluntary sector to get political
Compact – a failed initiative
Legal Aid, the Legal Services Commission and a tale of our time
Voluntary action and privatisation
The article below appeared in the Winter 2005/6 issue (No. 34) of Green Socialist magazine (quarterly journal of the Alliance for Green Socialism). The author retains copyright but it may be reproduced and quoted as long as the author and Green Socialist magazine are given acknowledgement. Read more
The Choice – speaking truth to power or keeping quiet
The Independent Theatre Council
ITC is a leading association for the performing arts, representing around 700 organisations across the UK from a wide range of performing arts organisations, venues and individuals in the fields of drama, dance, opera, music theatre, puppetry, mixed media, mime, physical theatre and circus.
Whatever it takes
In 2007, Positive Action in Housing (PAiH) organised a Sleepout in Glasgow’s George Square. The Sleepout was a symbolic action to highlight destitution amongst refused asylum seekers and the UK government’s policy of starving people out of this country to stop them claiming refuge. Every week PAiH gives out hundreds of pounds of money collected from public donations to prevent refused asylum seekers from starving on the streets. “We believe it is a disgrace that people are being left hungry and absolutely destitute in Scotland as a result of a policy emanating from Westminister”.
