Community Assemblies

Connectivity and information flow between assemblies

Our vision to establish a cooperative network of self-determining communities across the British Isles requires us to familiarise ourselves with the Community Assembly Structure (above) and understand how the different assemblies and roles work together in accordance with the Community Peace Service, Community Law Courts and Community Law.

The network and associated knowledge flow of the Community Assembly of the British Isles is set out as follows:

National Assemblies

These are the centralised assemblies for all the nations of the British Isles including England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Yorkshire (who have declared themselves a nation of the British Isles as they have a greater population than Scotland).

Regional Assemblies

These are defined by the traditional county structure of the British Isles for example Dorset in England, West Lothian in Scotland, Powys in Wales and Fermanagh in Ireland.

Community Assembly Hubs

These are a network of regional facilitation centres providing a wide range of facilities including administrative support for the assemblies, Community Peace Service and Community Law Courts - all for the benefit of the local community.

Local Community Assemblies

These are the grass-roots assemblies of local people covering each of the Regional Assembly areas where needs are assessed and decision-making takes place for the benefit and highest good of the community. Find out how to join a Community Assembly and how to set up a local Community Assembly.

The various roles of the Community Assembly of the British Isles are defined as follows:

Community Special Advisors

Community Special Advisors are pioneers working for different community assemblies and across the entire network who have a good understanding of Natural Law and often have experience living outside the system. Community Special Advisors contribute their knowledge, research models and specialist expertise to establish and develop the Community Assembly Framework and pillar content for this website. Community Special Advisors work hard to understand and implement the wishes of the people and provide support for those setting up Community Assemblies and Community Assembly Hubs across the British Isles.

Community Assembly Founding Facilitators (and follow-on Community Assembly Facilitators)

Community Assembly Founding Facilitators are those who have set up a Community Assembly in their area and who join the Community Assembly of the British Isles in order to 'plug into' the flow of knowledge between local, national and overseas groups. Founding Facilitators (and Community Assembly Facilitators who take over this role from the founders) make a commitment and are actively working to:

1) Promote the vision, mission and shared values of the Community Assembly of the British Isles.

2) Collect information from members of their Community Assemblies and disseminate that information as required.

3) Establish open communication channels for their Community Assemblies and the wider network.

4) Gather and share knowledge that might be helpful to members of the wider network.

5) Feedback and help us continuously improve our standard framework and service delivery.

Community Peace Keepers

Community Peace Keepers work directly with the public providing information, answering queries, resolving disputes and facilitating agreed remedies. Free training is available on the Peace Keepers website with uniforms issued on successful completion by the Community Assembly of the British Isles.

Community Peace Constables

Community Peace Constables support the Community Peace Keepers and work directly with the community Sheriff and the Community Law Courts to complete the various forms, action the summons issued by the court and recommend court cases with trial by jury if required. 

Community Sheriff

The community Sheriff calls a court into being and appoints a court judicator for the duration of the trial and if necessary, takes on the role of court judicator themselves. It is the responsibility of the community Sheriff to allocate a venue for the court case, ideally at a local Community Assembly Hub if in place. There is no judge as all decisions are made by the court jury.

Court Judicator

The Court Judicator is there to support the Court Jury with any requirements, take the oath of the Jurors, ensure that all court procedures are carried out correctly and liaise with the Community Sheriff to rectify any errors made if necessary.

Court Jury

The Court Jury is selected from members of the local community who will each receive an invitation to attend. The only provision is that jury members are not connected in any way to the defendant or any members of the court.

Flow of Information (KNOWLEDGE)

Local Community Assemblies are the direct link to and from the people and are the part of the whole which ultimately influences every decision. The Local Community Assemblies convey the voice and wishes of 'we the people' throughout the network.'

Structure and Function (PURPOSE)

To form a local Community Assembly requires three people to accept responsibility for relaying information from the Community Assembly of the British Isles (CABI), the Regional Assembly, Metropolitan Assembly, and Community Assembly Hubs to their community members and from the community members to the Community Assembly Hubs, Metropolitan Assembly, Regional Assembly and CABI in a two-way flow of information.

It is a task that is going to require dedication on behalf of the Founding Community Assembly Facilitators and other designated Community Assembly Facilitators. The information put out by CABI is open to every registered member of CABI to ensure that the information is spread far and wide.

Community Assembly Hubs (SERVICES)

Community Hubs are centres where administrative and other required services and support are provided for the local community. Community Hubs will set up and maintain natural medicine and healing facilities for resident and visiting physicians, healers and therapists. The Community Peace Service will be based there with provision for Community Law Courts with education and training facilities available to provide the opportunity for skills to be learned and passed on. Community Hubs will be involved in the growing and distribution of organic and local produce together with coordinating required trade and other services. 

Community Assembly Framework (GOVERNANCE)

It might be difficult to hold this model completely but it represents a starting point for us all to work on and develop over time. Ultimately it could all come down to numbers and the idea is for all members of the community to engage in the process with Regional and Metropolitan Assemblies linking directly with CABI.

Information will also be passed between countries so that the information flow is worldwide. Any national organisation which 'plugs in' to CABI must have at least one Founding Member registered as a member of CABI and who will be a part of the Community Consensus Service (see below). This will ensure that all interests are represented for the people, by the people, through the people in an organised, transparent and measured way for the highest good of all.

CABI is the source of the inspiration and umbrella organisation which will ensure governance (not to be confused with governing or government).

Governance is a necessary set of rules which allows for freedom of choice whilst ensuring there can be no breach of the peace, thereby bridging the gap between individual freedoms, liberties and natural rights and the needs of the community.

Secondary to that is the process of dispute resolution, if and when disputes occur.

The reason for this being the responsibility of CABI is that some disputes could be territorial and CABI will be responsible for distribution and acceptance of information to and from the rest of the world (see below). 

Overriding Premise

Within our consented behaviour under the rule of law, we are free to choose how we want to interact and how we want to live together in peace and harmony. Each individual has consented to the respective duties, rights and obligations of the larger community as ratified by an 80% supermajority (the agreement of 80% of the Community Assembly or group accountable for those responsibilities).

Governance refers to structures and processes that are designed to ensure accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity and inclusiveness, empowerment, and broad-based participation.

National Assembly

GOVERNANCE

Community Assembly of the British Isles (CABI)

3 x Founding Facilitators

1 x Community Consensus Service Members (see below)

[This fits perfectly with the work of Jeff Cartwright as detailed in his book 'Cultural Transformation' which advocates the creation of 'super-ordinate and diverse multi-cultures' founded on ethical values and proven motivating principles (Nine Key Motivating Factors recognised as a World First for British Research by the University of Exeter). This model (and associated models) can be used as a standard that (a) sets out the principles and values most important to people (as per Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) and (b) provides a mechanism for honest and accurate feedback on what people feel about the way they are treated, their personal development, and the quality and effectiveness of communications and governance at local Community Assembly level and other levels of the greater whole.]

Community Consensus Service

DUE DILIGENCE OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND NATIONAL LEVEL DECISION-MAKING

Founding Facilitators/Members - 1 per Regional Community Assembly

Designated Occupational Expert/s - as required

Community Assembly Registration

COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY OF THE BRITISH ISLES MEMBERSHIP

COMMUNITY CONSENSUS SERVICE MEMBERSHIP

LOCAL COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY REGISTRATION

COMMUNITY GROUP AND TRADE DIRECTORY LISTINGS

Local Levels

Small Towns, Villages and Hamlets

Community Assembly of [name of town/village/hamlet]

3 x Founding Members of CABI

Group Directory - Listed as a CA, CA directory page, contact information

Trade Directory - Founding Facilitators and Independent Members of CABI

District Levels

District areas

Community Assembly of [name of district]

3 x Founding Members of CABI

Group Directory - Listed as a CA, CA directory page, contact information

Trade Directory - Founding Facilitators and Independent Members of CABI

Metropolitan Levels

Inner Cities and Large Towns

Community Assembly of [name of city/suburb/town]

3 x Founding Members of CABI

1 x Community Consensus Service Member

Group Directory - Listed as a CA, CA directory page, contact information

Trade Directory - Founding Facilitators and Independent Members of CABI

Regional Assemblies

County or Country (eg, Yorkshire)

Community Assembly of [name of region/country]

3 x Founding Members of CABI

1 x Community Consensus Service Member

Group Directory - Listed as a CA, CA directory page, contact information

Trade Directory - Founding Facilitators and Independent Members of CABI

National Group Affiliations

National and International Community Groups

Independent groups working at national level across the British Isles and overseas

Name of Group with Specialism / Service / Trade

1 x Founding Member of CABI

1 x Community Consensus Service Member 

Group Directory - Listed as a Group with dedicated page and/or blog article, links to website/s

Trade Directory - Founding Member & Independent Members of CABI