Links
On this page, you will find links to organisations thinking about, discussing and challenging the nature of democracy and political participation in Britain.
If you know of a link we’ve missed, please email info@powerinquiry.org. Please note that the POWER Inquiry cannot be responsible for the content or reliability of the sites listed below.
ACT - Active Citizens Transform
www.actnetwork.org.uk
ACT is a non-party political movement that campaigns for true democracy and sustainability.
Bow Group
www.bowgroup.org
The Bow Group is the UK's oldest right of centre think tank.
British Youth Council
www.byc.org.uk
BYC is the national youth council for young people aged under 26 in the UK.
Campaign for an English Parliament
www.thecep.org.uk
Campaign for an English Parliament is dedicated to addressing the problems
of disparity between the nations of Britain post-devolution.
Campaign for Conservative Democracy
www.copov.org.uk
A campaign for democracy in the UK in its widest sense as well as democracy
within the Conservative Party.
Carnegie Young People Initiative
www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/cypi/home
Carnegie YPI promotes the involvement of young people
aged 10-25 in the key decisions that affect them. It is an independent organisation,
funded primarily by the Carnegie UK Trust, created to push forward policy and
practice across the UK and Ireland.
Centre for Public Scrutiny
www.cfps.org.uk
The Centre for Public Scrutiny is an advisory body working to promote the value of scrutiny in modern and effective government, not only to hold executives to account but also to create a constructive dialogue between the public and its elected representatives in order to improve the quality of public services.
Charter88
www.charter88.org.uk
Charter88 is an independent organisation that campaigns for political and constitutional
reform.
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum (I&R)
www.iniref.org
Citizens' Initiative and Referendum (I&R) provides proposals and resources to campaign for direct democracy such as citizens'
initiative, referendum, and recall in Britain and Northern Ireland.
CommunityPeople
www.communitypeople.net
CommunityPeople specialise in enabling citizen and stakeholder engagement and
building online communities.
Compass – direction for the democratic left
www.compassonline.org.uk
Compass is a new membership-based pressure group of the democratic left, whose
goal is to debate, discuss and develop the ideas, vision and action needed
for a more coherent and radical programme for a centre-left government.
Democracy Commission (Ireland)
www.democracycommission.ie
An independent Commission looking at democracy in Ireland.
Democratic Audit
www.democraticaudit.com
Democratic Audit (Human Rights Centre, University of Essex) inquires into and measures the quality of democracy and political freedom in the UK and around the world.
Direct Votes
www.directvotes.info
A campaign for the systematic use of direct democracy in the UK.
Do Politics
www.dopolitics.co.uk
Do Politics is The Electoral Commission's outreach website aimed at encouraging
young people to get involved in Britain's democracy through workshops and events. It
also provides resources and training across the UK.
English Constitutional Convention
www.englishconstitutionalconvention.com
The English Constitutional Convention is a forum for the debating and consideration of ideas for the devolution of England.
Electoral Commission
www.electoralcommission.org.uk
The Electoral Commission is an independent body which was set up by the UK Parliament in November 2000. It aims to increase public confidence in the democratic process in the UK; and encourage people to participate - by modernising the electoral process, promoting public awareness of electoral matters and regulating political parties.
English Democrats
www.englandsparty.com
The English Democrats is a political party formed in 2002 to politicise the campaign for a separate English Parliament and address the threat to democracy in England by the current political system.
Fabian Society
www.fabian-society.org.uk
The Fabian Society is a left-of-centre think tank and political society, committed
to creating the political ideas and policy debates to shape the future of progressive
politics.
Food Ethics Council
www.foodethicscouncil.org
The Food Ethics Council reports on ethical issues in food and agriculture,
developing tools to help make ethical thinking a standard practice in policy,
business and everyday life.
GeneWatch UK
www.genewatch.org
GeneWatch aims to ensure that genetic technologies are developed and used in the public interest and in a way which promotes human health, protects the environment and respects human rights and the interests of animals. Ensuring public involvement in the decisions that are made about if or how genetic technologies are used is an important goal, GeneWatch aims to increase public understanding of genetic technologies and to carry out or support research about their impacts.
Green Audit
www.greenaudit.org
Green Audit examines data to establish truth in complex scientific matters
and undertakes health enquiries relating to the environment and illness. Their
work also includes examination and analysis of economics, political decision-making
and systems of scientific advice informing policy.
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
www.ippr.org
IPPR is a progressive think tank working to be a force for change by delivering
far-reaching and realistic policy solutions to work for a fairer, more inclusive
and more environmentally sustainable world.
Institute of Local Government Studies
(University of Birmingham)
www.inlogov.bham.ac.uk
The Institute of Local Government Studies (Inlogov) is a leading centre for local government management research, consultancy and teaching. Its work has has helped shape national and local governance agendas.
Involve
www.involving.org
Involve is a new initiative established to investigate whether new forms of
public participation can strengthen Britain's democracy.
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
www.jrct.org.uk
JRCT is a grant-making trust interested in supporting projects working for justice, peace
and a fairer world.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
www.jrf.org.uk
The JRF supports a wide programme of research and development projects in housing,
social care and social policy.
Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Limited
www.jrrt.org.uk
JRRT Ltd aims, through its grant-making and other work, to correct imbalances
of power - strengthening the hand of individuals and political and campaigning
organisations working for democratic reform, constitutional change and social
justice.
London Civic Forum
www.londoncivicforum.org.uk
London Civic Forum works across public, private and voluntary sectors, between different communities, and with all faiths to ensure that Londoners, and the organisations that represent them, have a 'voice' as well as a vote on the issues that affect them.
Mind the Gap London
www.mindthegaplondon.co.uk
Mind the Gap is an independent, civic initiative and pressure group campaigning to close the gap between citizens, politicians and government. They have recently published a pamphlet, building on their campaign in the lead up to last year's London and Assembly elections, calling for a new culture of democratic engagement in the UK.
National Association of Local Councils
www.nalc.gov.uk
The National Association of Local Councils represents the 10,000 community,
parish and town councils in England and Wales.
New Local Government Network (NLGN)
www.nlgn.org.uk
The NLGN is an independent think tank that seeks to transform public services,
revitalise local political leadership and empower local communities.
New Politics Network
www.new-politics.net
New Politics Network is an independent political and campaigning think tank,
concerned specifically with issues relating to democratic renewal and popular
participation in politics.
New Socialist Network
www.newsocialistnetwork.com
The New Socialist Network was established to give greater credence to centre-left parliamentary parties worldwide through updating Socialism in appealing to today's new majority.
One World Trust
www.oneworldtrust.org
One World Trust is a non-profit organisation that researches on and works with
decision-makers on issues of global governance, striving to make the world’s
most powerful organisations more accountable to the people affected by the
decisions they take.
Oxfam UK Poverty Programme
www.oxfamgb.org/ukpp
Oxfam's UK Poverty Programme develops ways of working which enable people living in poverty to work out their own solutions to their problems, and to challenge the policies and practices that are responsible for creating and maintaining poverty.
Poverty Alliance
www.povertyalliance.org
The Poverty Alliance aims to combat poverty by effecting change in the policies, practices and beliefs of communities, policy makers, professionals and the general public.
Save the Labour Party
www.savethelabourparty.org
Save the Labour Party campaigns to save the Labour Party as a democratic socialist membership organisation, and promote party and parliamentary democracy.
Simpol-UK (Simultaneous Policy Organisation of the UK)
www.simpol.org.uk
ISPO is a movement of world citizens who use their votes in a completely new
yet effective way to drive the politicians of all nations to simultaneously
implement the Simultaneous Policy (SP), a range of citizen-designed measures
to bring about economic justice, environmental security and world peace.
Trade Unions Congress
www.tuc.org.uk
The TUC campaigns for a fair deal at work and for social justice at home and abroad. Its member unions represent over six and a half million working people.
UK Youth Parliament
www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk
UKYP aims to give people aged 11-18 in the UK a voice which will be heard and
listened to by local and national government, providers of services for young
people, and other agencies who have an interest in the views and needs of young
people.
Women's Institute
www.womens-institute.org.uk
NFWI is an educational, social, non-party political and non-sectarian organisation.
It is the largest women's organisation in the UK, with some 220,000 members throughout
England and Wales, mainly in rural areas.
Your Party
www.yourparty.org
Your Party is an organisation that promotes greater popular participation
in the political process. Its aim is for better democracy, better decisions
and better delivery at all levels of government.
