Conference focused on engaging with research insights on what works in community empowerment and the implications for the future of policy and practice in Scotland.
The event aimed to:
- share learning and resources developed by What Works Scotland
- foster connections between researchers, citizens, practitioners and policy workers
- think together about what’s next for democratic innovation in Scotland.
The conference focused on engaging with research insights into what works, and what does not, in community empowerment as well as discussing implications for the future of policy and practice in Scotland.
Held on Tuesday 6 November 2018 at the University of Edinburgh Pollok Halls.
Resources
- Empowering People And Places – Introduction by Oliver Escobar (PDF)
- Empowering People and Places 2018 – Resources (pdf)
Place-based approaches
- Can Places Empower People? Presentation by Claire Bynner (PDF)
- Get selected place-based approaches resources
Co-production
- Successful co-production in practice and cultivating a co-productive future – Presentation by Richard Brunner (PDF)
- Get selected co-production resources
Tackling poverty locally
- Can we design anti-poverty support in ways that are more dignified and less stigmatising? – Presentation by Hayley Bennett (PDF)
- Get selected anti-poverty resources
National Standards for Community Engagement
- National Standards For Community Engagement – Are We There Yet? Presentation by Fiona Garven (PDF)
- See the National Standards for Community Engagement
Third sector interfaces
- Making Third Sector Interfaces more democratic: the experience of STRiVE – presentation by Linda McNeill (PDF)
- Get third sector interface resources
Community engagement in community planning
- Improving Community Engagement in Community Planning – presentation by Sarah Weakley (PDF)
- Get selected community engagement resources
- Community Planning Officials Survey: Understanding the everyday work of local participatory governance in Scotland
Participation requests
- Are participation requests helping community empowerment? – Presentation by Clementine Hill O’Connor (PDF)
- Get participation requests resources
Community anchors
- Community Anchors – Changing the dynamics of community empowerment – presentation by James Henderson (PDF)
- Get selected community anchors and community capacity-building resources
Participatory governance, including community councils
- Building Community Councils for the 21st century – presentation by Andrew Paterson (PDF)
- Get selected participatory governance resources
Participatory budgeting
Programme
9.30 – 10.00 | Registration and tea/coffee |
10.00 – 10.30 | Welcome and introductions – Oliver Escobar |
10.30 – 11.10 | Ministerial address and Q/A – Aileen Campbell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Scottish Government |
11.10 – 12.30 | Lightning talks and table conversations: Community empowerment approaches
|
12.30 –13.30 | Lunch |
13.30 – 14.45 | Lightning talks and table conversations: Community empowerment processes
|
14.45 –15.05 | Break |
15.05 – 16.00 | Closing session: What is next for community empowerment in Scotland? |
Reactions
Speaking at #WWSConf18 today on #participationrequests and #communityempowerment Lots of interesting people and speakers. Looking forward to the discussions throughout the day
— Clemmie Hill OConnor (@cehoc14) November 6, 2018
Cabinet secretary Aileen Campbell MSP talking at the @WWScot #WWSconf18 #CommunityEngagement pic.twitter.com/diaqixU7UY
— Dr Hayley Bennett (@HAYLESBEN) November 6, 2018
. @ClaireBynner @WWScot asks if places can empower people. Civic participation rising and no sign of apathy but promise of empowerment yet to become a reality. #WWSconf18 #CommunityEmpowerment
— Laetitia Jan (@Scotlaeti) November 6, 2018
Scottish Government aspiring to support local communities to transform democracy underpinned by the Christie Commission principles @ClydesdAileen #WWSConf18
— Tamara Mulherin (@Tamara_Mulherin) November 6, 2018
Need to build and nurture a culture of participation and democracy from an early age. Also need to maintain, grow and challenge it to mitigate adult cynicism! #WWSconf18 @WWScot @ClydesdAileen Thanks for your response regards CfExcellence
— Lee Haxton (@LeeHaxton) November 6, 2018
“Children’s ideas & views are not limited. We need to ensure children are involved so they grow up in a place where they feel valued and respected.” Great discussion with @ClydesdAileen about why we need to meaningfully engage children in #communityempowerment @WWScot #WWEconf18 pic.twitter.com/s5P4DMqtnM
— Katie Reid (@katiereid19) November 6, 2018
. @ClydesdAileen says we need to be mindful to reach beyond usual suspects ‘bubble’ and be creative to grow spectrum of engagement and #communityempowerment. We don’t want a sanitised version of what people want. #wwsconf18
— Laetitia Jan (@Scotlaeti) November 6, 2018
Background
Scotland has a long tradition of community action, engagement and participation. The Christie Commission and the COSLA Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy have placed community empowerment at the centre of public service reform. The What Works Scotland programme (2014-2018) has featured substantial research into these developments across the country and internationally.
Our research has explored:
- participatory budgeting
- community anchor organisations
- community-led food aid
- place-based approaches
- national standards for community engagement
- coproduction of services
- deliberative participation
- power inequalities
- facilitative leadership
- community councils
- community planning
- third sector interfaces
- participatory governance
This was the first of three final conferences from What Works Scotland about the present and future of public service reform.