Here is where people give us their views about independent action, how it figures in their world and how they see it. NCIA wants to provide a place where people are able to express their point of view. In particular, to challenge one-size-fits-all thinking. The viewpoints are not necessarily shared by all those involved in NCIA. Whether their situation is different or similar to our own, whether we agree or disagree, we hope that these opinions give us all food for thought, ideas we might take into our own situation and a fresh perspective.
Please feel free to submit your comments on the relevant post.
If you have a viewpoint that would be good to share, contact us.
For Insurgency: The Case against Partnership
For nearly two decades we have been told that ‘partnership’ is the way forward, bringing us all together in ‘one big happy family’. But is partnership working really a confidence trick, confirming and exploiting unequal power relationships? Here Professor Jonathan Davies of De Montfort University outlines the arguments and trails his recent book which locates the fashion for partnership working right in the heart of the global neo-liberal project.
We don’t need no thought control
As analysis of the riots replaces knee-jerk condemnation of young people, Bernard Davies reflects on NCIA’s research about voluntary sector youth work.
Mad world, my masters: CVS says no to transforming local infrastructure
Adur Voluntary Action has opted out of bids for the transforming local infrastructure fund. Adrian Barritt explains the practical and philosophical concerns that led to the decision
Read more
A personal take on the voluntary sector’s dilemma
Sarah Lamb, trustee of Adur Voluntary Action and a lifelong volunteer, explains why the Transforming Local Infrastructure scheme won’t work
An essay on the ‘big society’
John Seddon reflects on how a systems thinking method has improved public services but is now under threat from cuts, commissioning and ‘big society’ as the government fails to move beyond central control and large-scale initiatives.
What’s Burma got to do with us?
Penny Waterhouse finds a connection with the struggle for democracy in Burma.
I was listening to Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected leader of Burma, about the struggles in her country to be self-determining. And although Burma’s situation is very different to mine, here’s what she said which rang bells with me:
- being a dissenter is what democracy is about
- building contacts with each other is what is done
- one struggle is just one of many struggles across the globe and this understanding brings solidarity and connections
- mental freedom is at the heart of what creates material freedoms
- the drivers for change are always internally led
- out of differences come new ideas
- and, when things seem bleak, what you can do is keep the flame of hope alive
Cake or death? A comment on the cuts, ‘big society’ and community sector ‘cognitive dissonance’
‘Big society’ is a bust, local authorities have problems of their own and economic recovery is unlikely any time soon, writes Andrew Climo, CEO of Community Leaders. His advice for people who work in the community sector? Question partnerships with the statutory sector, only do projects with profound community benefits, lobby for what your community needs and act collectively with anyone who shares your values, be they local businesses or community groups.
Old hands and the new wave of activists
What words of wisdom would you give a new wave of activists who have started to fight cuts across the UK?
NCIA was invited to help with one of the workshops at the Netroots conference in London on 8 January 2010. Around 35 people came to the session on countering the cuts in your area. Read on to find out what issues activists are grappling with and how we can draw on the wisdom of all people in our communities.
Delayed compact is definitely useless
The latest version of the compact – the bit of paper that reckons to set out a more equal relationship between voluntary organisations and the government – has now been put off indefinitely.
We’re not too worried as the compact continues to ignore the bulk of small scale voluntary action. Meanwhile the compact industry sucks up to government while persisting in a naive belief that a piece of paper can sort out unequal power relationships.
Government has no business running civil society
Government has no business running civil society. And voluntary agencies have no business running public services. NCIA’s Peter Bird talks with trade unionists
Cameron’s ‘big society’ is a front for cuts, privatisation, the exploitation of labour and good will, and undermining trade unions. Peter explains….. The other morning I heard the Chief Executive of a national charity talking on the radio about an event they were having, and saying that they believed in the big society, it was something they had been promoting for some time. It put me in a right bad mood. Ok, it was my own fault! It was early in the morning, my coffee hadn’t percolated yet, I had no business listening to the radio! These are troubled times, you shouldn’t let the outside world into your home so early!
