Good News Stories

Day in, day out there are people – individually and together - who use their power to challenge injustice and to confront the bureaucratic hurdles and downright obstructions placed in front of them. This is where we celebrate their creativity and courage, their frustrations and their successes.

We don’t have to take it any more

Did you ever see a film called Network, starring Peter Finch as a disaffected radio presenter? If so, you’ll remember him persuading people all over the city to stand at their windows and shout out together: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore”.

Advocacy in Darlington is an inspiring story of how you don’t have to take it. Manager Chris Close tells how they stood up to Social Services in the interests of the people they work with, survived withdrawal of funding and went on to find other ways of continuing the work.

This is the story of a well established local advocacy organization which lost its funding when a new regime at the Council didn’t like what it was saying and objected to its refusal to back down when advocating for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.

It shows the vital role of independent advocacy, and the need for funders who provide services to recognise this. Also it illustrates how tendering can be used to get rid of people perceived as troublemakers. And most of all, it shows that it is possible to survive loss of funding, continuing to work in a way that is congruent with your beliefs and principles. As Chris says… We are now poor in money but rich in spirit and in camaraderie. This is our community and not the property of a self appointed few who happen to have power and money. With a will and shared knowledge, we really can reclaim our communities and take power back from people only interested in themselves and not in the community they were paid to serve”. Read We don't have to take it anymore to hear Chris’ story…..

The Struggle for Ladywell Pool....

This is the story of how a group of local people took on Lewisham Council and won. The campaign to save their much loved local swimming pool had a dramatic impact on local election results and forced a U-turn by an autocratic Council. Two years’ untiring campaigning had successfully mobilised local people: saving the pool and exposing how the Council put out misleading information and had little or no interest in what local people really wanted. And you'll read about the reasons why they think they were successful and what it means for local democracy.

This is an example of a successful grass roots campaign, but it also shows that you can never take anything for granted. As we write, the Council has produced a new proposal for demolition of the pool and the campaign is back in full force. Go to Ladywell Pool to find out more ....

Just Say No.....

You'll hear what happened when Social Action for Health had to confront the question: whose tune are we singing to - the community's or the funder? And decided they could no longer live with the conditions required by funders - and so gave the money back. The story explains what enables an organisation to say “no” to a powerful local funder and still survive, the consequences of saying ‘no” and the value of a community development approach to work in the mental health field. The lessons from their story should be of interest to other agencies facing the juggernaut of commissioning. Go to Just say no to find out more.....

Whatever it takes.....

Tells the story of the Glasgow voluntary agencies and local people who stand shoulder to shoulder with families faced with forced deportation, dawn raids and detention - simply because they had asked for asylum in the UK.

Like many voluntary and community groups, Positive Action in Housing’s day to day work brings it directly in contact with the suffering, injustice and hardship caused by the impact of government policy. Unlike most, though, PAiH has refused to remain silent about this and is renowned for straight talking and collective action. Its story shows that we can stand together against injustice and be sustained by attracting support across the board. Whatever it takes tells you more....

Speaking Truth to Power.....

Read the story of the Chief Executive who said what was on her mind to a powerful funder and policy maker, and found that it was just what was needed for the organisations she represented. Charlotte Jones, the Chief Executive of the Independent Theatre Company, found herself at a party, in the company of the Chair and Chief Executive of the Arts Council. Against a background of much discontent with the Arts Council she had to decide whether to tell them what people really thought – or whether to keep quiet and munch on her canapé. Being Charlotte, there really wasn’t any choice. Keep reading about The Choice.....

If you have a Good News Story to tell, please email us. Please don't worry about format (we'll edit and check with you for approval), and let us know if you want your or your organisation's identity kept confidential.