Carnegie UK Trust Newsletter – May 2008

Welcome to the Carnegie UK Trust newsletter. Click on the links below to find out more:

Futures for civil society

Having completed the first phase of the Carnegie Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland, which explored possible threats to and opportunities for civil society, looking out to 2025, we are now exploring a series of 'burning issues'. The goal of the second phase of the Inquiry's work is to explore how policy and practice can be enhanced so civil society is strengthened.

- Civil society, social justice and the growing pressure on global resources/climate change. The Inquiry is running two projects to address this theme.

- The first is the development of a guide that will provide ideas for how non-environmentally focused civil society associations can engage with growing pressure on global resources/climate change in a meaningful way.

- The second project will explore how the climate change and social justice agendas can practically be bridged and the role of civil society associations in doing so.

Read more for further information on calls for proposals to support this work

- Spaces for meaningful conversations. A key finding from the Inquiry's futures work was concerns about the diminishing arenas for public deliberation, especially in relation to many contentious society issues. The Inquiry will undertake research and host events to explore this issue further.

- Bridging. The Inquiry futures reports highlighted the likelihood of increasing fragmentation in social and the increasing isolation of the poorest. The Inquiry is therefore keen to explore the distinctive role of civil society associations in bridging difference, socio-economic and other divides.

- Civil society and the mainstream media. The Inquiry Commission is concerned about the relationships between civil society associations and the mainstream media, both in terms of ownership and in terms of shaping content. The Inquiry will therefore host a series of events to explore this issue further.

- Marginalisation of dissent. Members of the Inquiry's International Advisory Group and participants in the Inquiry futures events (especially in the Republic of Ireland) were concerned about the increasing marginalisation of dissent, whether it is inhibited by legislation or by other factors such as the relationship between civil society and the state. With input from Civicus, the Inquiry will host a series of events to explore this issue further.

To find out more about the Inquiry and how you can get involved please contact morven@carnegieuk.org

Other related actions:

- Bridging social capital - seminar series. The Carnegie UK Trust is co-hosting as series of seminars with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations on bridging social capital. Read more

- Young people. The Trust will be publishing a report on the relationships between civil society, children and young people. This complements a series of actions the Trust has taken to gather insights from young people about futures for civil society. Read more

- Inquiry think pieces. The Inquiry welcomes the submission of think pieces to stimulate deliberation. Papers received to date explore themes including: engaging civil society in climate change, the relationship between the voluntary and community sector and trade unions, and the role of faith based organisations. Read more

Civicus World Assembly

The Carnegie UK Trust will hold two events at this year's Civicus World Assembly in Glasgow on 20 and 21June.

- 20 June: Kumi Naidoo, General Secretary and CEO of Civicus and an International Advisory Group member of the Inquiry will moderate a session focussing on the work of our Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society. Participants will include Civicus members from throughout the world and we hope to gather participants’ insights about how the marginalisation of dissent manifests itself in their respective contexts.

- 21 June: A workshop on ‘Power tools’, the theme of which is People, Participation and Power.

For further information please contact morven@carnegieuk.org

Democracy Initiative

The focus of the democracy initiative is on power and influence.

Power case-studies
The Trust will be publishing a series of case-studies that illustrate the role and complexity of the exercise of political power and influence by civil society associations and other agents of change. The case studies on School Meals. ESOL classes, the 2006 Energy Review and the Sexual Orientation Regulations illustrate both high levels of citizen influence and a lack of citizen influence. The report will be available on the Trust's website and an associated seminar series will be hosted in the second half of 2008. To register your interest in participating please contact catherine@carnegieuk.org.

Power tools
The Trust has been exploring the availability of practical tools that enable civil society associations to best map, understand and influence power. A factsheet documenting the findings of this research will be available on the Trust's website. To find out more about this work contact soumountha@carnegieuk.org

Rural Programme

What's Working In Community Development, Conference - 23 To 25 June 2008

A new joint publication on asset based community development by the Carnegie UK Trust and the International Association for Community Development will be launched at the International Conference on Community Development in Nova Scotia, Canada. Read more

Rural Community of Practice

Since 2004, across the UK and Republic of Ireland, the Carnegie UK Trust Rural Action Research Programme

has supported ‘fiery spirits’ as they have shown what it takes to create resilient and sustainable rural communities. With renewed commitment from the Trust, these strong rural voices will have opportunities to unlock the potential of our rural communities to a much more ambitious brief. We are establishing a Rural Community of Practice - an informal network of practitioners who are actively involved in building the resilient rural communities of the future,capable of weathering future storms (of every description), and in the process, creating the 'good life' in ways we can't begin to imagine. For further information contact nick@carnegieuk.org

Carnegie Young People Initiative launches final report

Drawing on the experience of Carnegie’s Young People’s Initiative, which has funded research and projects into effective youth participation for the last ten years, the final report, Empowering Young People highlights the urgent need for a more proactive approach to youth participation to ensure the full engagement of young people in society.

Although the this report marks the end of the Carnegie Young People’s Initiative, Participation Works, which in part grew out of the work of Carnegie, will continue to provide a support network for professionals working within the youth participation field.

For further information contact morag@carnegieuk.org

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