The document discusses the role of the Gateshead Community Network (GCN) in enabling local activism and giving voice to community issues since its establishment in 2002. It highlights GCN's efforts to engage the public through consultations, community development, and supporting volunteer activities while addressing the challenges and costs associated with activism. Key questions raised include the funding of activism and how to maintain the integrity of activist groups as they become mainstream.

1. Hearing Uncomfortable Messages –
Volunteering as Activism
Joan Moon – Chair, Gateshead Community Network
Sharon Hallett – Chair, Gateshead Autism Group

2. Definition of ‘activist’ that reflects GCN activity
“Someone who takes part in activities that are
intended to achieve change (political or social)
especially someone who is a member of an
organisation”

3. Gateshead Community Network
• Established 2002 through the Community
Empowerment Fund
• We are apolitical – neutral
• We enable local people to have a voice in issues
that may affect them
• We are unique – a wide ranging membership of
groups and individuals in Gateshead – all
volunteers on behalf of GCN
• GCN Steering Group and staff team

4. Gateshead Community Network
• Supports individuals to become activists within
their own communities e.g. Gateshead Autism
Group
• And/or represent GCN in key decision making
structures
• Supports children and young people to be
active within their school communities – GCN
Junior Network

5. GCN as activists
We engage with and involve local people via:
• Public consultations on a variety of issues on
behalf of statutory agencies, ensuring that the
key issues identified are responded to in terms
of the design and delivery of services
• This often involves taking ‘uncomfortable
messages’ to service providers

6. GCN as activists
We engage with and involve local people via:
• Community development with new, emerging
and existing community groups that develop in
response to locally identified need
• Managing and maintaining Our Gateshead
website - a community information website for
community and voluntary sector groups in
Gateshead

7. We are the ‘Big Society’!

8. Volunteering as activism
• Activism has a cost
• Infrastructure organisations are essential
components to support and sustain
activism, locally, regionally and nationally
• Activists reputation – “Voluntary not
Amateur”

9. A Volunteer Activist’s story
Sharon Hallett
Chair
Gateshead Autism Group

10. Questions
• Activism costs – how should it be funded and
supported?
• How do we balance the issues of support and
facilitation versus management and control?
• How do we ensure that if activist groups
become part of the ‘mainstream’ ( via funding
sources) that their original aims and vision are
not undermined or weakened?