UNIQUE SUMMIT HERALDS NEW ERA OF CITIZEN ACTION
Scotland’s leading civil society groups to devise ‘plan of action’ for citizen-led response to social and economic crises
With the economic downturn hitting public finances in Scotland hard; growing momentum behind the move to make the change to a low carbon economy and the future of the Scottish media a subject of intense debate – next week Scotland’s leading citizen-led organisations will come together to explore their crucial role in tackling these key challenges. Scotland’s Civil Society Summit, held on 18 February, will see Scottish charities, trade unions, co-operative, faith groups, campaign groups and social enterprises combine to put together a ‘plan for action’ for civil society action on:
- Poverty and Economic Democracy
- Equalities and Human Rights
- Climate Change and Climate Justice
The event comes a month ahead of the launch of the final report of a major 4-year Inquiry, supported by the Carnegie UK Trust. The report, Making Good Society, will set out how progress on finance, climate and politics rests on a new age of citizen action.
Joyce McMillan, panellist at the event and a Commissioner of the Inquiry team, said:
“This is a great chance to bring together key players from across Scotland to look at how citizen-led organisations can help tackle some of the major concerns of our time. Civil society associations and activity have always played a central role in communities within Scotland, and perhaps even more so than other parts of the UK and Ireland have helped shaped the political settlement and structures in ways that most people recognise as both powerful and positive.
“Now it’s time for civil society groups to grasp this opportunity to look back over the first ten years of devolution, and to map out their priorities for action over the next decade”The event has been organised by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations in partnership with a broad coalition of Scotland’s major civil society organisations, including:
- Carnegie UK Trust
- Scottish Trade Union Congress
- Church and Society Council
- Faith in Community Scotland
- Scottish Interfaith Council
- Senscot
- Local People Leading
- Co-operation and Mutuality in Scotland
- Royal Society of Edinburgh
Joyce McMillan said:
“This is a unique moment and a chance for citizen-led organisations to listen to what others are doing and act now with a shared voice. With the challenges society is facing, civil society action is more urgent than ever.”Alison Elliot, speaking at the conference as both SCVO’s convener and on behalf of the Church of Scotland said:
“At a time where Governments and the Market have not delivered us the solutions to the crises facing our society, this conference provides an opportunity for civil society to provide an alternative vision of progress. Carnegie’s Inquiry at this time is very welcome”
Ends.
Scotland’s Civil Society Summit takes place between 10am-4pm on Thursday 18 February at Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
The report of the Inquiry, Making Good Society, will be launched in March 2010. It covers the key themes of:
- Growing a more civil economy
- Ensuring a rapid and just transition to a low carbon economy
- Democratising media ownership and content
- Growing a more deliberative and participatory democracy.
The Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society is supported by the Carnegie UK Trust.
For more information, including advanced copies of the report summaries, findings and recommendations, please contact: Melissa Milner
melissa@dhacommunications.co.uk
020 7793 4035 / 07976 636 228
and see www.futuresforcivilsociety.org
