News and Links

Critically Chatting Collective

"Nature tells us that if water stands long it corrupts; whereas running water keeps sweet and is fit for common use." Gerrard Winstanley [1652] on the necessity of rotating and replacing regularly political representatives. If you like this approach, then you'll like this website http://www.critically-chatting.0catch.com

The Collective was started up by a small group of people, who've been involved in youth and community work in England for up to thirty years. Presently over 70 folk come together from time to time, to argue the toss about 'what on earth we think we're doing?' in the light of their commitment to radical social and political change. And, without doubt, arguing this corner has got tougher in recent times!The network is widening, with London events complemented by meetings in Wigan and Liverpool. So why don't you join in. It looks fun, as well as needed. As they say...."an organised and critical opposition to the 'generalised conformity' suffocating so much practice is sorely needed".

Women lose out with impact of commissioning

A major report from the Women’s Resource Centre - The Impact of Commissioning and Procurement on the Women’s Voluntary and Community Sector – concludes that “commissioning can, and often does, fail women and children due to the lack of consideration given to the different needs of women and children and the gender-neutral approach to the commissioning process”. The study which focussed on commissioning as part of the National Offender Management Scheme (NOMS) can be accessed at www.wrc.org.uk/downloads/Policystuff/NOMSreport2008.pdf

New Freedom of Information resource launched

Online democracy charity MySociety is set to launch a website to make it easier to submit requests to public bodies under the Freedom of Information Act. Whatdotheyknow.com, still in development, provides simple FOI request forms and a facility to browse previous requests.

Power Up! Rights & Justice residential weekend, 16 - 18 May 2008 in Birmingham

Training weekend from Friends of the Earth aimed at activists taking on the planning system. The workshops will demystify the planning system, look at the use of freedom of information laws and provide networking opportunities. Power Up! is aimed at anyone involved in community campaigns or site-specific environmental campaigning.

Cost = £60 to include all meals and accommodation, and some grants are available To register send FoE your name, and either your local group name or a short paragraph explaining why you think the event would be useful to you. E-mail via the website www.foe.co.uk/feedbackcomment.htmlto: or contact Naomi Luhde-Thompson or Julian Kirby on 020 7490 1555

NAVCA gets £2m to help members win contracts

NAVCA has been secured Lottery grants of £2m to help voluntary groups influence local government policy and secure service-delivery contracts. A £1.07m grant will establish a local commissioning and procurement unit at NAVCA to work with local infrastructure organisations to help community groups become more involved in designing and delivering public services. Another grant of £970,000 will help NAVCA expand its Improving Local Partnerships Unit, which works with local sector organisations to help marginalised communities influence local government policy. Will we see an upsurge in independent action? To find out more go to: www.navca.org.uk

Campaign with Confidence says Charity Commission

The Advisory Group on Campaigning and the Voluntary Sector, has welcomed new guidelines from, the Charity Commission on charities and campaigning. The guidance states explicitly that political activity - seeking to influence a specific law or a policy of central or local government - is legitimate, provided it is not a charity's "continuing and sole" activity. A spokesperson said: "I'm very pleased that this version unequivocally endorses the right of charities to campaign, so if there has been self-censorship, that will be lifted now.” There’s rather more to it than that, says us in the Coalition.

You can find the new guidelines at www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc9.asp

Migrants and Refugee Organsations encouraged to enter the commissioning fray

Big report (all 176 pages of it) from the Housing Associations Charitable Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation encourages MROs to get stuck into commissioning (More Responsive Public Services: A Guide to Commissioning Migrant and Refugee Organsiations). Bit of a poisoned chalice this, in that it totally accepts the Government agenda with no hint of criticism or outlining the dangers of being sucked into the commisioning relationship. The report does not reflect well on ether HACT or JRF but have a look for yourself - www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2166-migrant-service-provision.pdf

Government policy hampers Community Groups speaking out

Bassac's recently published report ‘Calling for Change’ reveals that a mismatch of government policies and absence of funding is undermining the ability of community groups to speak out about the needs of ordinary people. Have a look at http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/8024526

Scottish democracy group launch ‘Ten propositions and proposals’

Edinburgh-based Learning for Democracy has launched a public statement setting out ‘Ten Propositions and Ten Proposals’ for democratic learning. This is an impressive list and contribution to the debate and has been produced as a wallchart. This means you can put it over your desk as a check to see if what you’re actually doing is helping or hindering! We’re hoping to put the material on our website too. Copies of the electronic statement can be had from ian.martin@ed.ac.uk and a limited number of printed copies are also available.

Heroes, Monsters and Lost Worlds – Storytelling in Local Partnerships

Fascinating account of a series of workshops held in Lewisham in 2004, where participants told stories and reflected on their experience of community partnerships. Illustrates the power of the narrative and includes some moving insights into what people bring into voluntary action. Copies can be got from the Coalition office – e-mail indyaction@yahoo.co.uk

New blog on ‘community confusion’

For those who like the cut and thrust of intellectual exchange, have a look at Andy Gregg’s blog on community confusions – looking at the “confusions, dangers and ideological issues around the use of the term ‘community’”….. If you want to join the fray log onto www.communityconfusions.blogspot.com/

Dissent also under attack down under

Your editor’s visit to Australia found amongst other things that life is not smooth for NGOs down under. A useful 2004 paper from the Australia Institute (Silencing Dissent) summarises the actual and potential threats to the independence of voluntary action. A web-based survey revealed “widespread alarm amongst NGOs about their lack of ability to speak in support of the people they represent without risking revenge in the form of personal abuse from Government representatives, public disparagement and withdrawal of funding”. Sobering stuff. A copy of the paper is available from the Coalition office – ask us for it at indyaction@yahoo.co.uk.