National Coalition of Independent Action

Dissent protects democracy

Primary menu

Skip to primary content

Skip to secondary content

Home
About NCIA
Take part
Viewpoint
Resources
Stories
Commissioning
Contact

Post navigation

← Previous Next →

Newsletter 28 hot off the pixels

Posted on 16 July, 2012 by — No Comments ↓

0 Flares Twitter 0 Tweet Facebook 0 0 Flares ×

Our latest newsletter is now up on the site. News, events, latest triumphs, usual madness. You can see more here: http://ymlp.com/zBXqZ0

Share:

This entry was posted in News and tagged Newsletter by . Bookmark the permalink.

Social NCIA

Twitter Facebook RSS

Search for something useful

Search

Recent comments

Volunteers – cheap labour or free spirits? | Volunteering Counts on Volunteers – cheap labour or free spirits?
andy benson on How to make a toothless watchdog – ‘Healthwatch’ censored and emasculated
axiomatic on Volunteers – cheap labour or free spirits?
Mark Restall on Volunteers – cheap labour or free spirits?
Fiona Liddell on Volunteers – cheap labour or free spirits?

Hot topics

2009 2010 activism adur adviceuk advocacy andy benson Bob Rhodes campaign colin rochester commissioning community community empowerment compact cuts darlington events funder funders funding hammersmith & fulham health human rights independence ladywell managerialism matthew scott NCIA work Newsletter notag Peter Bird privatisation procurement public choice second tiers social enterprise social justice social policy social services steve radford stories tendering third sector vcs voluntary sector

Links

Campaign for a fair society
Coalition of Resistance
Community Confusions
Critically Chatting Collective
Equanomics
European Services Strategy Unit
False Economy
In Defence of Youth Work
Just Wage Campaign
National Community Activists Network
Netroots
Network X
Occupy London
Our Society
Salford Star
Social Work Action Network
Systems thinking in the public sector
Voluntary Sector Cuts
We Own It

Not in our name!

Add your signature

Not in our name!

We, the undersigned – along with many people active in voluntary, community and campaigning groups – disagree profoundly with much of the content of this letter. These national bodies do not speak for, or lead us.

We take issue on two matters of principle. Firstly, the letter commits to a party political agenda: the Open Public Services agenda. This policy is code for privatisation and termination of public services. We question whether the sector can be supportive, since charities are forbidden at law from engaging in party politics. We also question whether we should connive in delivery of policies about which there is growing evidence of damage to our common wealth and to vulnerable people. Our starting point should always be the expressed needs of our beneficiaries and those with whom we stand in common cause.

The letter uses the term “public service reform” without any recognition of the diversity of views that exist about the types of reforms needed. We find the letter’s references to government welfare reforms particularly disingenuous, because these are not reforms. They are cuts, the effects of which we observe daily, and are being monitored nationally. The clear inference is that the sector is, through these leaders, offering through increased levels of volunteering to compensate for shrinking public services. This is an untested and dangerous assertion that is being increasingly challenged in the academic and professional worlds, and from within local communities.

Secondly, the letter shows no understanding of the diversity and independence of voluntary action: between national and local organisations, and between service delivery and campaigning bodies. These independent bodies are all corralled together to “stand ready” to help deliver key government policies. The letter fails to mention the increasingly important role that is opening up for voluntary and community groups – campaigning alongside service users, trades unions and public sector staff against harmful cuts. To suggest that the sector’s role is to “help individuals and families prepare for and manage change” or “preparing for their impact” in “this time of transition” is frankly offensive to our members, our self-help communities and the users of our services. Our duty, rather, is to listen to and understand the experiences and needs of local people, then act according to our best judgements and consciences.

One responsibility of the independent voluntary sector is – in a constructive spirit of genuine critical thought and independence – to question and challenge policies which our users and members tell us are harmful. It is certainly not to pen letters which demean us all with a willingness to connive in almost anything, however damaging.

[signature]

First Name

Last Name

Email

Confirm Email

Organisation/Group

Add me to your mailing list

Add your signature

Spread the word

Sign up to what NCIA stands for

Add your signature

Sign up to what NCIA stands for (before your signature is added you'll be sent an email to confirm your signature)

NCIA campaigns to defend and promote the rights of civil society to act independently, and hold to account, the State and other powerful political, business and financial interests.

NCIA supports such action by individuals or groups for social justice, equality and solidarity. We are particularly interested in local action which makes a material difference to the conditions of daily life.

We believe in public services run by publicly accountable institutions. The role of voluntary services is to complement, challenge and test out new ways of meeting need: not to take the place of public services. We will oppose the privatisation of public services whether into the private sector or through voluntary services.

We assert the right to dissent, as part of a healthy democratic society. Power is not given but taken. Dissent – or at least the willingness to engage in some form of dissent – is required to challenge injustice and powerful interests and to push for alternatives. Dissent is particularly required when consensus, collaboration and negotiation has failed and where the stakes are high for individuals and communities. Without this capacity, the democratic role of voluntary action (or civil society) is fundamentally undermined.

[signature]

First Name

Last Name

Email

Confirm Email

Organisation/Group

Add me to your mailing list

Add your signature

Spread the word

Monthly archive

Admin

Log in
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
WordPress.org

Facebook
Twitter

Copyright © 2013 National Coalition of Independent Action . All Rights Reserved.

Powered by WordPress | Theme: Catch Box

0 Flares Twitter 0 Tweet Facebook 0 0 Flares ×

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address

Cancel

Post was not sent - check your email addresses!

Email check failed, please try again

Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.