Community Action Network

SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES

The principles are those which guided the Community Action Gatherings in 2005 and 2010:

“   The aim is to share information and experiences, and exchange our views as local activists. That way we will be more effective and be able to make a real difference in our communities.

See some key questions for all of us – below, at the end

SOME KEY QUESTIONS

Fighting for the local services and facilities we need
How do we put pressure on those controlling community resources and services to get the improvements we need – education, healthcare, leisure facilities, parks, playcentres, community centres, council services etc? Should our communities take them over? If so, how? What is the role for user groups? Can people set up their own services?

Our neighbourhoods – improving our streets, our local environment and community spirit
What kind of neighbourhoods do we want? How do we get safer, greener and friendlier streets? How do we get rid of ugly and oppressive features (billboards, speeding traffic, too much concrete etc)?  How can we build up community spirit and neighbourliness, and ‘take ownership’ of our areas?

Decent and affordable housing for all
How can we ensure decent housing for all? Can homelessness be countered by occupations of empty homes and buildings? How can council house residents defend public and ‘social’ housing against privatisation and gentrification, and fight for more control over their homes? How can private tenants and mortgage-payers stand up to landlords and money-lending institutions etc.  What are the pros and cons of housing co-ops?

Regeneration, gentrification and planning
Can regeneration and ‘urban development’ benefit our communities? If so, how can people ensure their real needs are addressed? Is regeneration often a cover for gentrification and undermining working class areas and facilities (threatening established housing, green spaces, pubs, community centres, small shopping parades etc) – if so what can be done about it? How are communities resisting private developers and unwanted mega-projects?

Local workplace struggles and issues
How do workers and workplaces link into community issues and struggles? How can communities directly link up with and support local workers, and vice-versa (eg. community boycotts and industrial action etc)? Should we work with trade unions or encourage independent workplace self-organisation?

Sustainable Communities
How can we ensure that our local communities are socially and environmentally sustainable for generations to come? What can we do where we live to speed up the transition to a low or zero carbon society? What can we learn from existing community-based transition/sustainability/low carbon/climate-action networks, and how can such networks link in with wider campaigns and struggles and help challenge and abolish capitalism and the State?

Community centres and social centres
What kind of meeting places do local communities need? What are the pros and cons of existing community centres? Where else can people get together (clubs, pubs, cafes, parks, playgroups, church halls etc)? How can radical, self-organised social centres really make a difference in local areas?

Interaction with residents and existing residents’ groups
How can activists communicate better with our neighbours and our local communities? How do we interact with community-based groups of all kinds (especially residents associations and others who are committed to their communities)? What kind of activities can bring people together in a positive way – eg. single issue campaigning, public meetings and discussions, local festivals and street parties, informal sports, picnics, pub quizzes etc? How can such activities help build up a culture of local independence and resistance?

Councils – how should we relate to them?
What attitude should community activists have towards councils? Councils exercise huge influence over how resources (etc) are allocated – how do people work towards real local control and self-management over all decision-making and resources? Is it possible to support local pro-community and pro-working class election candidates and at the same time emphasise the limits of municipal democracy? Or is it better to lobby Council officers and councillors from the outside, or just ignore/boycott them and rely on direct action? In the absence of mass-participation how does a local group gauge its support in the community?

How to set up local groups
Is there a fundamental difference between local ‘political / radical’ groups and local ‘community’ groups, or are they complementary forms of self-organisation? How can such groups spread to every locality, especially in predominantly working class areas? Can community-based single issue campaigns lead to permanent local organisations? How do we ensure that such groups are independent, inclusive, accountable to their communities, take up a wide range of relevant issues, and promote mutual aid and solidarity?

Communication techniques and strategies (newsletters, mailing lists, leaflets etc)
What practical methods are the best ways of spreading information, building up communication channels, and encouraging and inspiring people to get involved in the life of their community and to join in with local groups and campaigns? What are the benefits of leaflets, public meetings, newsletters, minutes, email lists, websites, door-to-door visits/questionnaires, notice boards, posters, phone trees etc?