Community Sector Coalition new article content ...

Community Sector Coalition (CSC) is a network of national community organisations working with communities in the UK. There are currently 30 members with a wider membership of approximately 70,000 organisations.

Vision, Mission & Aims

CSC vision statement

• For the community sector to be empowered, valued and active in local democracy

CSC mission statement

• To be a credible and authoritative independent voice for the community sector

CSC aims

• to campaign for policy change that will benefit the community sector
• to deliver a programme of research and learning about the community sector
• to enable members to share information and identify priorities for collective action

What is the Community Sector

The Coalition aims to promote the interests of the community sector (small informal community organization

Community organization

Community organizations are civil society non-profits that operate within a single local community. They are essentially a subset of the wider group of nonprofits. Like other nonprofits they are often run on a voluntary basis and are self funded...

s) as distinct from the voluntary sector

Voluntary sector

The voluntary sector or community sector is the sphere of social activity undertaken by organizations that are for non-profit and non-governmental. This sector is also called the third sector, in reference to the public sector and the private sector...

 (larger, funded organisations).

NCVO's Civil Society Almanac suggests that 600,000 out of the 870,000 civil society organisations listed are informal community groups.

CSC's position is that government policy and funding arrangements have led to structural inequalities in the Voluntary and Community Sector, and that policy and funding has failed to connect with community groups. CSC say that "Those 833 very large charities, which are just 0.5% of all charities, have 55% of total charitable income. Compare this to the 72,900 very small charities with less than £10,000 (approx 50% of charities), that have just 0.5% of total charitable income."

History

CSC say: "The Community Sector Coalition was established in 1994 by a group of Chief Executives of national umbrella organisations whose work focused on the community sector. They met to establish a Coalition of organisations that wanted to champion the unique contribution that the community sector makes to society.

Since 1994 the Coalition has met regularly to share information, network, develop joint projects and respond collectively to Government policy. The added value that is generated through members working together ensures that resources are used more effectively across organisational boundaries and that a stronger, unified voice campaigns on issues vital to the sector."

In the news

In 2009 the Coalition criticised the Compact for the voluntary sector for being aimed at "third sector subcontracting organisations" and neglecting community organisations which are "the majority of the sector".

In March 2010 the CSC released a policy position 'Unleashing the Potential', which called attention to the failure of policy to connect with local groups, the income inequality in the Voluntary and Community Sector, and the untapped value of community organisation.

In late 2010 the Coalition was criticised for hosting a meeting of community development

Community development

Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....

 workers at which the Big Society

Big Society

The Big Society was the flagship policy idea of the 2010 UK Conservative Party general election manifesto. It now forms part of the legislative programme of the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement. The aim is "to create a climate that empowers local people and communities, building...

was described as a "sham".

Current members

• Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)
• Advice UK
• African Women's Empowerment Forum (AWEF)
• Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG)
• British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres (bassac)
• Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
• Churches’ Community Work Alliance (CCWA)
• Civic Voice
• Communities Inc
• Community Development Exchange (CDX)
• Community Development Foundation (CDF)
• Community Development South East (CDSE)
• Community Foundation Network
• Community Matters
• Educational Centres Association (ECA)
• Faith Based Regeneration Network (FBRN)
• Federation for Community Development Learning (FCDL)
• Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG)
• HACT
• Housing Justice
• Institute of Leadership and Community Management (ILCM)
• Mind
• National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA)
• National Coalition for Independent Action (NCIA)
• National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS)
• North West Community Activist Network (NWCAN)
• Novas Scarman
• Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK)
• Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS)
• Urban Forum
• Voluntary Arts Network (VAN)

External links

• http://www.communitysectorcoalition.org.uk Community Sector Coalition website