Legal Aid, the Legal Services Commission and a tale of our time

October 17, 2008 · Filed Under Viewpoint · View Comments 
Big changes are sweeping through the legal advice sector and these are having an impact on the many hundreds of independent advice services that play a crucial role in enforcing people’s rights and holding authority to account. In this feature Andy Benson, from the Hackney Advice Forum, looks at what is happening in this corner of ‘voluntary action’.

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Voluntary action and public services

March 19, 2008 · Filed Under Viewpoint · View Comments 

Whilst Annie Kelly’s excellent article in the Guardian (19.3.08) captures my rage about what is happening to the VCS, it doesn’t quite capture the perspective in one important respect – voluntary agencies delivering public services. Locally-based voluntary agencies have been delivering services to people for ever and these organisations form the backbone of the sector. It would be daft to say that they shouldn’t do this. Some of these services – advice and advocacy work being a classic example – have to be independent of the State to do their job properly. The problem with this part of the discussion is that various things have been conflated. Read more

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Cry freedom

February 20, 2008 · Filed Under Viewpoint · View Comments 

By Mathew Little, Third Sector, 20 February 2008

Andy Benson, convenor of the National Coalition for Independent Action, wants to stave off creeping state control of the voluntary sector.

Andy Benson

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  • Links & resources

    • Systems thinking in the public sector - John Seddon is a private sector consultant who is trying to introduce ‘systems thinking’ into the public sector…
    • NCIA speaks out - NCIA concerns about voluntary sector co-option are picked up by the Times in an article by NCIA’s Andy Benson. Go add your comments on-line
    • London Coalition Against Poverty (LCAP) – Direct Action Casework Manual - Direct Action Casework is what LCAP calls the actions it takes with people to challenge and overcome unjust treatment. Download the guide in pdf format
    • Overheard at the Jobcentre - A blog set up by and for unemployed workers and claimants to share stories and work out ways to support, defend one another and develop a united voice.
    • www.equanomics.org.uk/ - Equanomics UK exists to improve the economic prospects of minority and marginalised communities as a means to readdress social inequalities that exist in our society and rather create opportunities for sustained community development.
    • Newcastle CVS sets out the case against outcomes measurement - This paper examines what are seen as mistaken ideas about the appropriateness of using outcomes as a measure of success in the voluntary sector. Whilst it is primarily aimed at bodies like CVSs, much of it also applies to all voluntary groups.
    • Critically Chatting Collective’s Blog - Heretical and imaginative debate about Youth and Community
    • Salford Star - Written and produced by people in Salford for people in Salford. Totally independent, the Salford Star just aims to give the community a voice, to make public bodies a bit more accountable and to inform, campaign and entertain.
    • New video jingle for salfordstar.com - Salford Star’s new online issue has seen hits to the website rocket by 2000%!!! Salford singer songwriter, James Herring, has created a new video jingle for salfordstar.com.
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