From Joseph Rowntree Founation

Publication: A minimum income standard for the UK in 2014

The Minimum Income Standard 2014 study asks members of the public what goods and services they think different types of households need to live to an adequate level. Published annually since 2008, the study uses this information to calculate how much people have to earn – taking into account their family circumstances, the changing cost of these essentials and changes to the tax and benefit system – to reach this benchmark.   This year's research finds: a lone parent with one child now needs to earn more than £27,100, up from £12,000 in 2008. A couple with two children need to earn more than £20,200 each, compared to £13,900 each in 2008. Single working-age people must now earn more than £16,200, up from £13,500 in 2008; despite social and economic change, the list of goods and services is very similar to that of the original study in 2008, but people's ability to afford them has declined. Overall the cost of a basket of essential items has risen by 28% over six years, while average wages have increased 9% and the minimum wage 14%; increased tax allowances have eased the pressure somewhat for some households, but the freeze to child benefit and ongoing cuts in tax credits have outweighed this for low-earning families with children. Out-of-work benefits have fallen further and now provide 39% of what single, working-age people need to reach a Minimum Income Standard. On the other hand, pensioner couples who claim all their allowances receive 95% of the amount required.

What future for Voluntary Services - 1st NCIA Inquiry papers released

 

Some signifcant thinking in these reports for anyone with an interest in policies affectin the VCFS.. Please circulate..

NCIA has begun the release of 16 major reports as part of its Inquiry into the Future of Voluntary Services. Using the contributions of senior academics, voluntary sector managers, practitioners and consultants, this series of reports presents alarming evidence of the extent to which voluntary groups have allowed themselves to become subservient contractors, in the process muzzling their ability to speak up for their users and communities, and adopting 'managerialist' workplace practices in a 'race to the bottom'. The reports also give examples of people resisting these pressures and their stand with local people affected by cuts, privatisation and austerity.

The first four reports in the series are now available as downloads:

The Ideological Context by Professor Dexter Whitfield examines the changes brought about by the commitment of successive governments to the principles and practice of neo-liberalism, explains what neo-liberalism is, how this has reshaped the environment in which the UK voluntary and community sector now operates and its impact on voluntary agencies.

Ordinary Glory: Big Surprise not Big Society by Dr Mike Aiken looks at the impact of this changed environment on small volunteer-based community groups, shows how the influence of contracting and marketisation has damaged all levels of voluntary action but describes how, with a little encouragement, these groups and their activities might discover the seeds of a positive future.

Outsourcing and the Voluntary Sector by Laird Ryan documents the Coalition Government's drive to privatise public services and evidences the damage being wrought by competition and marketisation, shows where the money is going, and uncovers the growing trend of Voluntary Services as sub-contractors to profit-hungry corporations like Serco and G4S

The Devil that has come amongst us by Andy Benson looks in detail at the procurement and commissioning regimes through which this progressive enslavement on voluntary groups has been achieved, and the ways this has diminished interest and capacity to take their mandate from users and communities and speak out against injustice.  

Further reports will be released over the next few weeks. These will deal with the rise of social enterprise and investment, changes in the ecology of the voluntary services sector, stories from the frontline, the failure of 'leadership' at local and national levels, and the impact on volunteering and employment practices. There will also be specific studies on services for black and minority ethnic elders and refugees and migrant workers and reports on Scotland and Northern Ireland. These reports will be available via the NCIA website - http://www.independentaction.net/category/inquiry-voluntary-services/updates-reports/.

Further information available from Andy Benson: andy@independentaction.net.  

New blog on Fasting, Food and Food banks

Interesting blog here from Charlotte Dando of William Temple Foundation

 

http://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/society-is-starving-what-religion-taught-me-about-food/

A cultural shift for the Common Good

 

Is this email not displaying correctly? View previous newsletters in your browser. A cultural shift for the Common Good Dear Friends, There is plenty of evidence that the bonds of mutual respect in society have been deeply damaged: we are disturbed by this fracturing and inequality and our natural instincts tell us a profound change is needed. There are signs of movement, but it won't happen quickly, and we will need to commit ourselves to a generational cultural shift. It's too important to leave to politicians and it will require the participation of ordinary citizens at every level of society doing what they can according to their ability, for the Common Good.  We say that through our combined networks and shared commitment to human dignity and community, people in the different Christian denominations working together are well-placed to be agents of change for the Common Good. We need to reacquaint ourselves with the social traditions of the churches, and engage not only in social action alongside vulnerable communities, but also in supporting negotiation between estranged interests to develop structural solutions that enable all to flourish. Collaboration with fellow faith traditions and secular allies will be vital. People of faith and goodwill may be prepared personally to do the patient work of reconciliation - between left and right, rich and poor, secular and faith, business and unions, educated and uneducated, men and women, local and national, old and young. We need to reach out beyond our comfort zones. We at T4CG invest a lot of time intentionally meeting people who are not already our friends; we believe this kind of relational approach will lay the stepping stones to the change that is coming. Active relationship building brings forward new energy that will lead to cultural change. The language of the Common Good sees human beings as having a worth greater than their rights. So we are moving from a paradigm focusing on rights, where individuals are in opposition to one another, to one driven by virtue, vocation, conscience and relationships, which stresses our interdependence and our corporate nature. There is a fundamental strain of liberalism that can easily sound superior and risks alienating good people, the majority, who want to help. So rather than antagonise each other, we must negotiate, and this will only be possible if we have genuine respect for human beings with whom we disagree. It will challenge us all, and requires the application of 'Love your enemies' and 'Love one another' in practice. News about our work Last year people across the churches told us they felt powerless about how to counter the negative narrative that characterises our polarised politics and they asked us for help with a 'language of hope' and a 'vocabulary of the Common Good'. We are responding by developing a new conversation model: a Common Good Conversation to help ordinary people of estranged positions generate a language of hope together. We are excited that MB Reckitt Trust has generously awarded us funding for a pilot and we hope this will lead to a series of Common Good Conversation events. The pilot will take place in October and we are starting with the very human topic of 'Home' (housing, property and homelessness).  Sponsored by CCLA, the ethical investment management firm, and in partnership with Housing Justice, the pilot will involve a group of invited experts who will help us produce a model that can be replicated across their networks. Watch this space! Since our last newsletter our first cross-party discussion on the Common Good took place in Parliament. Twenty MPs and Peers from across party lines came together for a two hour discussion under Chatham House rules. We were told it was an unusually reflective gathering; guests were very appreciative of the opportunity to meet in an unhurried neutral setting to talk about the Common Good. Feedback was enthusiastic: 'very stimulating', thought-provoking', 'a superb event – fascinating discussion' and we have been asked to follow up. It took place thanks to the generosity of Christians in Parliament, and in partnership with them, we are planning further opportunities for Parliamentarians to come together across party divides and learn how Catholic social thought can be a helpful tool to discern policy for the Common Good. For your interest this month: The Church of England has placed a major debate on the Common Good at the heart of its General Synod in York on 12 July. Click here to read the official briefing paper, which is very good. For what is effectively T4CG's latest position statement, click here. Jenny Sinclair spoke on behalf of T4CG at the University of Kent Conference on Post-Liberal Politics and Ideas along with other speakers including David Goodhart, Phillip Blond and John Milbank in a small and significant gathering looking at the cultural and political shifts we want to see. Videos and transcriptions of the sessions will be posted soon here.  People may think they know what the churches are doing at grassroots level but the reality is more impressive than you might imagine. We recommend a video by Church Urban Fund about their Joint Ventures work in the most deprived communities and a short animation about their approach here. We are delighted and honoured to include papers by the leading Common Good thinker, the Jesuit Dr Patrick Riordan SJ in our Opinion Pieces. We are showcasing his paper 'Europe's Common Good' and providing a link to his 'A Blessed Rage for the Common Good'. A secular initiative called 'Call to Action for the Common Good' has emerged from a group led by Locality, CSV, Civil Exchange and NAVCA that brings together significant groups across civil society. We are pleased to be involved in their developing thinking. Their report is asking for comments. The Living Wage is beginning to gain real traction. If you know an employer we recommend you discuss with them 'Work That Pays', the final report of the Living Wage Commission, launched last week by Archbishop John Sentamu, downloadable here. The Annual Justice and Peace Conference, 'Called to Life in All its Fullness' is at Swanwick on 18-20 July. This is the major annual Catholic gathering designed to empower lay people concerned for justice. Workshops on Living Wage etc; programme for children and young people. Places still available.  Finally we recommend Anglican Social Theology - to be launched on 14 July. With chapters by Anna Rowlands, Jonathan Chaplin, Malcolm Brown, Alan Suggate and John Hughes it bridges several traditions and promises to be an important step forward in renewing the social tradition of the Church.  We hope you find our Resources section useful and our Opinion Pieces and case studies interesting. If you want to know more about what inspires us, read about the Sheppard Worlock partnership in our Background pages. In spite of how busy we're getting we are still working pro bono until we can find the time to raise funds for an operations manager. We are looking for volunteers - someone willing to take minutes at our meetings, someone talented at grant applications and someone able to help us organise the links and resources on our Further Reading pages. Do get in touch if you can help. We hope you find this helpful and that your own work is going well. We are always pleased to hear from you so don't hesitate to get in touch - after all, we're working Together for the Common Good. If you'd like to read more about us click here. There is lots happening on Twitter so do follow us @T4CG. Every best wish, Together for the Common Good If this message has been forwarded to you, and you would like to add your own email address to the list, you can subscribe here. Newsletters will be sent on an occasional basis. You have been included in this very limited mailing because we believe T4CG will be of interest to you. If you'd prefer not to receive subsequent updates please use the link below to unsubscribe.   Together for the Common Good is guided by a Steering Group: Patrick Coldstream (Chair), Hilary Russell, Nicholas Sagovsky, Jenny Sinclair, Alison Gelder, Andrew Bradstock, Maria Power, +Stephen Platten, Tim Livesey, Peter McGrail. We consult with a wider group of advisors. © T4CG 2014. www.togetherforthecommongood.co.uk follow on Twitter | follow on Linkedin | unsubscribe from this list