In May 2005, Karen was one of the seven 'visionaries' selected from 1600 applicants by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. With her ideas for a more just and peaceful world, Karen founded Equanomics UK. Equanomics UK is an initiative to build a UK community led alliance that reshapes race related policy through an economic lens. Through Equanomics UK Karen organised two UK tours with the Reverend Jesse Jackson to highlight economic injustice. In addition to her work with Equanomics UK, Karen runs her own consultancy with the premise: 'Equality for Your Business is My Business'. She also teaches Glen Parva Youth Offenders Institute, South Leicestershire College, and the Workers Educational Association. Voluntary Action LeicesterShire was delighted to welcome Karen as a keynote speaker at our 2013 Future Focus Conference. The conference is now complete, but if you'd like to be a part of our 2014 conference, visit www.valonline.org.uk

1. VCS
Current challenges, strange climates and
weatherproofing

14. Do you have branding
straplines?
True peace is not merely the absence of
tension: it is the presence of justice
The time is always right to do what’s
right.
Your birth is not your destiny
Women who seek to be equal with men
lack ambition

15. Narrative?
Economic contribution yet vast economic inequality.
Social contribution but social inequality.
Cultural contribution (food, music, dance, drama).
Sporting contribution (Olympics, football, boxing
etc).
Contribution to faith development.
Contribution to community development.

18. Young people
Rates of child poverty are particularly high among
children of African (56%), Pakistani (60%) and
Bangladeshi (72%) origin, compared with a rate of 25%
for white children. (CRE 2007)
Unemployment for young people has risen 8% since
March 08 and 13% for BME young people (IPPR 2011)
20% + of young people now unemployed - 48% Black
African Caribbean, 31% Asian (IPPR 2011)

19. Ageing
Against a backdrop of austerity and an ageing society, voluntary
action is often seen as one solution to the increasing demand on
care services.
Yes, if it moves from a narrow focus on ‘volunteering’ to looking
at how community assets in their widest sense can be valued,
developed and linked up. No, if it is seen simply as a free
substitute for existing public services.
Nearly 4.9 million people aged 65 and over in England (58 per
cent of that age group) take part in volunteering or civic
engagement, and most social care is already delivered through
voluntary action.
NCVO website

20. Poverty and welfare
Stigmatising those they are about to hit with cuts is seen
as an essential part of securing wider political legitimacy
for changes in spending.
Poverty remains entangled in false divisions between
‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’
Around two-fifths of people from ethnic minorities live in
low-income households, twice the rate for White people.
20% for White people. 30% for Indians and Black Caribbeans. 50% for Black
Africans. 60% for Pakistanis. 70% for Bangladeshis
Welfare, the dirtiest word in British politics? Chris Johnes, Oxfam
http:/blogs.ncvo.org.uk/2013/08/15/welfare-chris-johnes/

21. Economy and jobs
VCS –key role in helping people to become economically
active
For every £ invested – creating jobs, providing services
and attracting social capital via volunteering - £2 is
recirculated through the regional economy .
Many charities have been excluded form the welfare to
work programme and it has had other failings
Well managed volunteer programmes also essential – but
cuts have made this less possible
NCVO website

22. Health is wealth?

23. Homelessness
Housing for young people is unaffordable
39% of St Mungo’s clients were from BME
communities
housing benefit is paid to people on low income.
BME communities are amongst those with the
lowest incomes, often living in poor housing and
with high unemployment rates.
Bedroom tax will have a negative impact.
We know that BME communities are more likely to
become homeless.

24. Criminal Justice
Stop and search
Representation
Custodial sentences
Prevention of re-offending (each prison place costs
£40,000)
Policing

25. Political Context of VCS
Big Society and localism - nebulous concept; appeals
to left & right of spectrum
English Localism Act 2011
Argues answers are local, community scale not with
‘big government’
Revival of ‘the local’ & policy interest in
places/communities
Local decision-making, asset-ownership, mobilisation of
VCS etc
Civil society as a ‘resource’ for the state in austere times
Dr Kim McKee, Centre for Housing Research, University of St Andrews
25

26. Exacerbating Inequalities?
As Cruikshank (1999) argues strategies of empowerment
are still technologies of governance
Localism may exacerbate social-spatial inequalities:
Communities do not speak with one voice
Nor are they all equally resourced nor empowered; nor
operating at the same scale
Perspective on power that presupposes freedom
Some communities may be more able than others to
articulate their needs and command resources:
Issues such as skills, education, capacity, experience are all
relevant here
May disadvantage already low-income/deprived
neighbourhoods
26

27. Mobilization of community not new (history matters)
Policy discourses have differential impact in different places in
different ways (geography important)
Localism is no guarantee of community empowerment
Devolution may exacerbate inequalities
Poses threats as well as opportunities for the VCS
Blurring boundaries between third and public sector; expected to
fill the gap as the state retrenches with fewer resources
Important to consider broader context of welfare reform
Should not assume that all communities necessarily want to
take control
May not be a demand for community ownership for example, where
already receiving good service
Local and central government have statutory responsibilities
27

28. Activism or arm of the
state? (NCIA)
‘De-coupling’ of voluntary agencies that provide
services (often with state funding) to individuals and
communities, from the rest – activists and
community groups.
Commissioning is increasingly marketised and
professionalised: around access to finance, capacity,
risk management, and having the right technical
(contracting and financial) skills.

29. Where would you place yourself
and activism?
Individuals and
service
provision
Groups and
communities
Systems and structures

31. Check
Inward – branding, narrative, straplines, vision,
aims, values, change strategies, organisation.
Technologies for communication
Outward – political context and your analysis and
placement within that - service provision or activism?
Issues

32. IMPACT
Innovation
Motivation
Integrity
Mavens
Inspiration Issues
Messages Messengers Media
Passion People Principles Product Politics
Action Aims Achievement Aspiration Analysis
Creative
Concepts Change theory Connectors Communication
Technology Teamwork