There has been significant emphasis on strengthening and developing the sector—but we fear it has meant shaping us up to deliver government services within a particular market model.

All community organisations have volunteer boards, many of whom learn in that setting about:

• Democratic procedures
• Leadership, strategic and financial management,
• Working together to achieve a united view
• Sharpening focus on community need
• Responding to changes in the community
• Building coalitions across a locality.

THICK democracy is built from the bottom up!

So why Boards?

• Boards have a strategic role in identifying ways forward for their organisations;
• Community Boards are a key dimension of local democracy;
• Community boards represent their membership/community;
• Board members have skills, knowledge and capacity to address challenges;
• Boards have a responsibility as employers to safeguard workers’ conditions;
• A Board voice carries different authority to that of staff or citizen.

Thoughts from some other board members: