about us
Who we are
So far, the Coalition has attracted more than 400 interested individuals, organisations and groups - and we’re growing with each day. The interests are wide:
- those involved in grassroots action – both individuals and groups
- local groups supporting them
- regional and national voluntary organisations
- academics and freelance consultants
- funders concerned about the future of the sector
The Coalition has only a little money at the moment and most of us are working on an unpaid basis, or are able to contribute through the organisations we work for. We have a planning group which provides co-ordination, acts as a central point of contact and is identifying and doing the practical work we need to do and finding the means to resource this:
- Andy Benson – independent consultant in voluntary/community sectors
- Ruth Cohen – individual
- Sue Robson - independent consultant in voluntary/community sectors
- Colin Rochester – Roehampton University and consultant in voluntary & community sectors
- Matthew Scott – Community Empowerment Network, Lewisham
- Ruth Townsley - individual
- Penny Waterhouse – independent consultant in voluntary/community sectors
The planning group relies on growing list of activists who are busy in their own spaces, demonstrating independent action; and who get involved in practical Coalition activities and projects. We are always looking for people to join this list of people. Contact us if you're interested
What we're doing
The Coalition is currently using their time and efforts to:
Spread the word and make contact - with those who are already taking action, or who want to. We’re setting up this website and hope this will widen the net and allow more people to hear about, and get support from each other. Through the website and other contacts we are building the mailing list – so that we can pro-actively communicate, take the initiative and build the constituency. We meet up with people to see what we can do together, give talks to encourage action, write articles, put people in touch with each other and bring people together to talk about how they might take action
Gather stories of and threats to independent action - to expose the pressures faced by grassroots groups and activists and to show what is already being done to tackle these, the consequences for local communities and voluntary action and the factors that help and hinder. We are hoping that our website will encourage people to share their own stories - good and bad.
Provide local practical support and action - we are currently working in three areas to get a picture of the threats to community-based action and to demonstrate what can be achieved through independent action. We aim to develop an alternative model of action which will provide an antidote to the empty rhetoric of ‘partnership’ and ‘community empowerment’ . We are actively looking for people in other areas who want to join us in this work. If you're interested in working locally with us, contact us
Find creative ways to sustain community action - we are working with individual groups, and collectives, to oppose the damaging effects of ‘procurement and commissioning’ and to find other models to sustain voluntary action. If you want to be involved, contact us.
Who speaks for us? we are linking with local and national agencies who are serious about getting a mandate from their grassroots membership and who are prepared to challenge Government co-option. And we're ready to challenge those who just want to build their own power base, regardless of the interests of their membership and local needs.
Design and test new training opportunities – we are working with a major University to pilot a course to teach the skills and knowledge needed for independent action.
Get money and people - we need to raise money for our own work, in particular so we can respond to those who approach us for help. We are always looking for people able to give their time to Coalition work. Contact us if you can give your time or money.
Join us!
We are daily being contacted by people who have heard about and are interested in the Coalition. These people can join our mailing list and contribute to the website. But we also want people and organisations to go public about their support for the Coalition and help build a large and visible constituency for our work. We ask that everyone who agrees with and identifies with what we are trying to do signs up to the Coalition, takes their own action, publicises their and our activities and encourages others to get involved. Please go to the sign up page.
Apologies ..... and if we are not always able to respond quickly, we're sorry. We'll try to update the website and get back to you as quickly as we can. But at the moment our resources are few and the work increasing, so please be patient.