South East London Coalition Against Poverty

London Coalition Against Poverty is a newish group established 'to show solidarity with individuals and families affected by the regressive and hostile attitude of government and employers to poor and working class people'. It is inspired by an organisation based in Canada, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, which has developed the use of 'direct action casework'. This involves combining advice for people at the sharp end of the housing and benefits system with demonstrations etc. 'to pressure an institution to accept the demands of an individual, family, or small group. That institution might be a housing office, a job centre, a local authority, a landlord or perhaps an employer'.

As they acknowledge, similar tactics were used in this country by the unemployed movement in the 1920s and 1930s - see this previous Transpontine post on protests at the workhouse in Nunhead.

There is now a South East London Coalition Against Poverty and if you want to hook up with them, head down to their Kickin Beats and Fighting Poverty party next Thursday (November 12th) at Dirty South, 162 Lee High Road, Lewisham, London SE13 5PR. £2 entry.

Stop press 10th November: the venue for this has been switched to Jamm, 261 Brixton Road.