• It enables people to work together to influence change and exert control over the social, political and economic issues that affect their lives.
• It is about a collective focus rather than a response to individual crisis.
• It challenges inequitable power relationships within society and promotes the redistribution of wealth and resources in a more just and equitable fashion.
• It is based on participative processes and structures which include and empower marginalized and excluded groups within society.
• It is based on solidarity with the interests of those experiencing social exclusion.
• It presents alternative ways of working, seeks to be dynamic, innovative and creative in approach.
• It challenges the nature of the relationship between the users and providers of services.
• It is open and responsive to innovation from other countries and seeks to build alliances with organizations challenging marginalization in their own countries and globally.
• It involves strategies which confront prejudice and discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, class, religion, socio-economic status, age, sexuality, skin colour or disability.

Source: The Community Workers Cooperative (http://www.cwc.ie/)