Fairer Scotland

  • The Need to Protect Shared Space

    19th August 2015 by

    Angus Hardie (Director, Scottish Community Alliance). To share: (Verb) 1. to participate in, to use, enjoy or experience jointly or in turns. Why Sharing? When something is shared, to my mind, something fundamentally important happens. Cooperation is required, people have to talk to one another, to consider the needs of others, to give as well...

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  • The 2015 Scottish Young Carers Festival

    15th August 2015 by

    Lorna Goodwin (Scottish Young Carers Festival Coordinator at Carers Trust Scotland). Take hundreds of young carers, dozens of politicians and decision-makers – add in some workshops, consultations (and a lot of fun) and throw it all in a muddy field in the Scottish Borders. The result is the Scottish Young Carers Festival (SYCF) which has...

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  • Rural challenges for carers

    15th August 2015 by

    Lesley McCranor (Executive Manager for Healthy Valleys Initiative). Through our work at Healthy Valleys, we hear a lot of chat about the benefits associated with living in rural areas – and there are plenty – lovely countryside and fresh air and of course a good community spirit. These are the kind of things that contribute...

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  • There is another way

    14th August 2015 by

    Fiona McKenzie (Chief Executive Officer, Centrestage Communities Ltd). For over eight years now I’ve been reminding people that Centrestage isn’t about a place – it’s about the people – and that’s still true. The bottom line is this. We believe that everyone – regardless of age, background or experience – can gain life changing social...

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  • A Fairer Country for citizens with learning disabilities

    13th August 2015 by

    Steve Robertson (Chairperson of the Board of Directors of People First [Scotland]). In post-election Scotland, another wee earthquake is required. Something strong enough, at least, to shake, shimmy and shift the long-held attitudes towards us – those citizens of our small nation living with learning difficulties. At People First (Scotland) we work to support people...

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  • Who Cares for the Carers?

    13th August 2015 by

    Hilda Campbell (Chief Executive Officer, COPE Scotland). Times are tough. While too many people in this country already have barely enough income to feed, clothe and provide warmth for their families, brutal cuts also impact our ability to care. At COPE Scotland we work to tackle and address distress in people’s everyday lives – working...

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  • Unpaid carers – from recognition to rights

    10th August 2015 by

    Claire Cairns (Network Coordinator, Coalition of Carers in Scotland). On the surface things are moving in the right direction for unpaid carers. Emerging health and social care policy is littered with references to how important it is to support carers, to consult with them and recognise their role as contributors to care provision. There is...

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  • Creating a Fairer Scotland, the people’s conversation

    5th August 2015 by

    Danny Boyle (Parliamentary and Policy Officer – BEMIS Scotland). Scotland is changing. The public appetite for progressive, informed and collaborative development within issues which affect our everyday lives and those of future generations has showed little sign of abating since September 18th 2014. Social Justice is both personal and at the heart of our communal...

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  • Scotland providing international leadership on reducing inequality

    20th July 2015 by

    Nicola Sturgeon (First Minister of Scotland). In September, the UN’s General Assembly in New York will provide the backdrop for national governments to agree the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These new aims are part of a global approach to tackling poverty and inequality between now and 2030 and offer a vision of the world...

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  • Good Intentions Need Courage

    17th July 2015 by

    Mike Stevenson (Director, Thinktastic). If policy and good intent were enough Scotland’s streets will soon be paved with gold, but there are impediments to progress we have to sweep aside now. While I find great richness of talent and ideas in schools, neighbourhoods and workplaces these are usually whispered – not shouted. Then, if ideas...

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