Leicester Assembly Oct 09

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Developing a Voluntary Sector Assembly

Toby BlumeChief Executive, Urban Forum

www.urbanforum.org.uk

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About Urban ForumHelping community groups have a greater say over policy-making.

Research and consultation

Policy work and lobbying

Briefings and reports

Events and outreach

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Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to

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Some possible goals…

Increased influence over decisions

A thriving third sector

United and coordinated

More than the sum of the parts

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Play to our strengths

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Challenge

Inspire

Lead

Collaborate

Innovate

Do more for less

At our best we…

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Acknowledge our weaknesses

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Unaccountable & unrepresentative

Parochial

Serving self interest not beneficiaries

Moaning

Agents of the State

But we have our moments…

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Some context

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The Past

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The Present

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Doom and Gloom?

‘You should never let a serious crisis go to waste’

Rahm Emanuel (Barak Obama’s Chief of Staff)

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Challenge

Inspire

Lead

Collaborate

Innovate

Do more for less

Remember! We…

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Open minded

Vocal

Creative

Prove our value

Act collectively

Nothing is off limits!

Grasping the Opportunities

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Democratic renewal is the new Empowerment

Tackling political extremists

Good community relations

Civic participation

Current government priorities

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A Conservative government?

?

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Labour legacy

‘Control Shift’

Support for activists

Infrastructure?

A Conservative government?

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Challenges and hardship ahead

Electoral success driving the short term

13 years of access – unlucky for some?

Diversity, solidarity, equality

Thriving or surviving?

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A shameless plug!

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Stay honest and maintain your independence

Pick your battles – it’s a marathon not a sprint

Don’t get caught in political crossfire

Be in the solution business!

Final thoughts