[WiLT] The Coalition for Independent Action (in the VCS)

[WiL Admin]

The Coalition for Independent Action - we celebrate the power of
voluntary and community action to challenge and change the world
around us.

The Coalition is a new alliance of organisations and individuals who
have come together out of frustration and anger to object to the state
of UK Voluntary and Community Sectors. We believe there is a crisis in
our ability to act independently from Government and other powerful
interests, and to be part of the checks we need within our democracy.
This threat to independent action will, unless challenged, undermine
our civil society, our political health, and the capacity of
communities to get what they need for themselves.

We aim to mobilise, support and work with those who share our
concerns; to combine to expose and resist the current direction of
travel; to have our own agendas; and to become actively involved in
dissent where this is needed. We aim to build a strong enough voice to
give confidence to those wanting to speak out and take action, and to
create an alternative way of doing things. We will challenge and
impede, as we can, the juggernaut that is rolling over us - whether it
be driven by central government, local statutory bodies or compliant
voluntary organisations.

Hear us Cry Freedom in an article in Third Sector.
http://www.independentaction.net/cryfreedom

Read Who's in Charge of Independence?
http://www.independentaction.net/incharge

And here's yet more delights of what the Government has in store for
us - according to the Minister in charge of the Third Sector we must
work as partners with the State, not rivals. According to Phil, he's
going to help us "compete for and win public service contracts"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/mar/19/voluntarysector.publicservices

So here's your choice - you can either take your instructions from the
Government or you can join with the Coalition to do it your way,
alongside fellow travellers. Read about an antidote to Government
intentions
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/mar/19/voluntarysector

And here's an alternative opinion about voluntary action and public
services http://www.independentaction.net/pubilcservices

Join the discussions and influence what the Coalition says and does
through our google group
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/ncia-discussions

To find out more about who we are and what we're doing, go to about us
http://www.independentaction.net/about

To hear about the threats to independence, go to the Bad News Stories

To find out what action others are taking, go to Good News Stories

Want to resist the move to buy your soul through commissioning? Go to
Say no to commissioning http://www.independentaction.net/sayno

To contact us, find out more, get newsletters or join us, go to Sign
Up http://www.independentaction.net/signup

http://www.independentaction.net/


(copy of the most recent newsletter attached fyi)
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: NCIA newsletter no 5 March 08.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 116736 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://freecharity.org.uk/pipermail/womeninlondontraining/attachments/20080401/08f34870/attachment.doc>