During the first week of April two important meetings were held. They were to decide the future of the National Federation of Consumer Groups and Consumer Congress. Thankfully, they both came to the same conclusion, a marriage is to be arranged!
It has been clear for some time now that NfCG is regarded in some quarters (though by no means in all important quarters) as not being large enough to really matter. Knowing, as we certainly do, what an individual small Consumer Group can achieve, let alone the whole Federation, this is a misleading opinion, but it is nevertheless to be found.
Consumer Congress is in something of the same boat, and, what is more, has been dispossessed of its home at the National Consumer Council and we have both lost our funding from the Department for Trade and Industry. Neither body is entirely dependent on this funding but its loss is a serious matter.
The aims and objectives of both organisations are similar, though membership is different. Even so, there are a number of organisations which belong to both, while NfCG and some Consumer Groups have been long standing members of Consumer Congress. There is more common ground than difference. By getting together, a new body will be created with a stronger voice for consumers, particularly grass roots consumers, than we have been able to achieve in recent times while doing our own things.
Given the above, one would think that a coming together would be easy, but it is not easy to knit together two independent bodies, particularly when that independence has been enjoyed for 40 odd years in respect of NfCG. There has been much heart searching and argument but what is gradually emerging is a gaining of a more powerful independence as a joined together organisation.
One of the strongest arguments put forward by members against forming a joint body has been that NfCG will be overwhelmed by Consumer Congress, many members of which are non-grass roots bodies with professional consumer advocates. The arguments - sorry - discussions, are not over yet but what is apparent is that the Working Party which has been meeting to find ways in which a joining together might be possible has been working towards preventing this happening. It remains for you now to come forward and take your share of the organising. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to do this as places on the management body will be by postal election, but with a majority of grass roots consumers and consumer organisations with members, provided we take up the challenge and play our part.
But what will this brave new organisation call itself? Again, there has been some discussion and dissension but, quite remarkably I think, both organisations have now come to the same conclusion. We are to be know as The National Consumer Federation.
At the NfCG Special General Meeting on April 7th not only was agreement reached to come together with Consumer Congress as The National Consumer Federation, but agreement was also reached to form a Company Limited by Guarantee. Fortunately, this is also the option preferred by Consumer Congress. Draft six of the Memorandum and Articles which had been circulated to those attending was adopted. That it was the sixth draft is an indication of the intensive work that has been going on in the background, and it is still subject to amendment at an NfCG AGM should this prove necessary. No decision was taken to wind up NfCG as this is a step which only the Groups can take.
Past Chairman Sue Payne asks this question in a letter on an inside page, and present Chairman Roy Bisson attempts to answer it. Get inside and have a look!
John Brown
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