NCVO guide on using FOI in campaigning

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has published a new guide Voicing your right to know: A guide to using Freedom of Information in campaigning.

This new guide illustrates how the Freedom of Information Act has been used as a powerful and versatile campaigning tool from the local to the national level. It's findings show how campaigners are at the forefront of developing our ‘right to know’, making government more transparent.

Illustrated by five case studies, Bliss, Corner House, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, TreeHouse and the Campaign for Clean Air in London, the guide explores ways in which Freedom of Information requests have been used in campaigns from developing the evidence base of a campaign or to gain crucial information on how decisions are made.  It also explores why and how campaigns can benefit from using Freedom of Information requests and tackles some of the potential difficulties that can arise.

The guide has been put together by Philip Hadley for Campaigning Effectiveness, NCVO.