About NCIA

National Coalition for Independent Action (NCIA) is an alliance of individuals and organisations who believe that now, more than ever, we need to unite in independent voluntary and community action.

Why do we need independent action?

For centuries in the UK, what we now call the voluntary and community sector (VCS) has been a haven for innovation. People have been able to join together and act on what matters to them in their communities. This is a crucial part of democratic society.

What are we angry about?

The New Labour government pressured local voluntary sector organisations to give up their autonomy and focus on meeting government targets. The pressure has increased as the current government is intent on privatisation and expects voluntary organisations to compete with the private sector and local authorities to provide public services.

At the same time, the bulk of voluntary action – small unfunded community groups helping to hold communities together or campaign for social justice – continue to be patronised and ignored. The ‘big society’ is just a marketing campaign for privatisation.

We’re also angry that many people who reckon to represent the VCS at national level have failed to speak up for independence, have gone along with privatisation and commissioning without complaint and have undermined democratic ways of working in their organisations.

What are we doing about it?

We have three linked campaign areas. Let us know if you can help us shape these areas or can do any practical work such as contributing a case study.

1.    Public services and privatisation
We are speaking out on the effects of privatisation, cuts, ‘big society’ and localism. We are analysing the evidence and gathering people’s stories of local campaigning, negotiating with commissioners and ways of funding independent action.

2.    Managing independence
We are promoting appropriate management styles for voluntary organisations – being well managed in the voluntary and community sector is more than just being efficient in providing services, it is about changing society for the better.

3.    Supporting activism
We want to support people and groups who are working for social change and find people who will speak out against practices that threaten independent action.

What you can do

  • Sign up for our email newsletter
  • Come to an assembly meeting
  • Look at the take part section and let us know if you want to contribute
  • Contribute your views and news – post comments on this website or email your stories to info@independentaction.net