Creating A Fairer Scotland Joanna Shedden Social Justice and Regeneration Division
Strategic Position Tackling inequalities one of three main priorities for Government. Tackling inequality goes hand in hand with building string sustainable economy FM determined to speak to people differently bottom up approach - we will not consult on pre-determined options.
Policy Scope (1) Living and working with Dignity: Poverty and equality Social Security Health and How we live together: Place and space Housing Justice Community empowerment
Policy Scope (2) Best place to grow up: Early years Education Jobs and opportunities Connected and engaged: Civic participation Social inclusion Digital inclusion
Current activity Programme for Government commitments including: Increasing housing supply Mitigating welfare reform Increasing access to childcare Increasing educational attainment Supporting community-led activity
What more? Agreeing a long term shared vision and the steps to reach it. Launch of a national conversation: Creating A Fairer Scotland: what matters to you? On 19 June
Phases of work Phase 1 (June August): testing the vision and approach; building momentum Discussion paper will encourage people and organisations to consider: What are the issues that matter most to you? What do you think needs to be done to create a fairer Scotland How can you and your community play a role in helping to shape our future?
Phases of work Phase 2 (September November): engaging people in the policy-making process Deliberative events Regional Specific groups Continuing the conversation online and in communities
Phases of work Phase 3 (December to February): responding to the conversation Representative group of citizens convened to consider the conversations that have taken place since June and deliberate on a vision for a fairer Scotland by 2030, the priorities for achieving that vision, and the steps that need to be taken by Government and across society to deliver on those priorities in the next Parliament. SG action plan in response.
ACTIVITIES Regional deliberative events facilitated by neutral partner Health-led conversations with patients Young people events Mr Neil Town Hall style events Tapping in to existing stakeholder networks to hold facilitated conversations Communities Ministerial visits Dedicated fund to facilitate local conversations small grants for venue hire, childcare etc Building a Fairer Scotland Hearing different voices Dissenting voices? Targeted activity through relevant policy teams to engage those who may disagree with our approach Media engagement Focused conversations with key opinion formers Stakeholders Roundtable with Chairs of Local Poverty Commissions Discussions in prisons Private discussions facilitated through stakeholders - People experiencing poverty - Disabled people - Older people - BME communities - women Marginalised groups Conversations with disengaged young people through youth workers etc Dedicated Tumblr page through which to publicise success stories Crowdsourcing to generate discussion on range of themes Online Linking to other relevant online spaces Themed events with academics Dedicated website with range of blog posts and support materials Social media channels to publicise the conversation, drive discussion Engagement through Ministers
How do you get involved? Have conversations with your tenants Feed back the outcome to us online or via email Publicise the conversation Let us know about existing good practice
To get the conversation started we have produced some initial materials, including a resource pack, that may be helpful in facilitating conversations. This and other material can be accessed at www.fairer.scot and we hope that partners will also begin to share useful resources via this site. If you need any other support, or hard copies of the Fairer Scotland leaflet, you can contact officials at fairer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. You can take part in or follow the conversation on social media at @scotgovfairer, #fairerscotland and www.facebook.com/fairer.scot. I would greatly appreciate if you could capture your conversations and tell us about them via facebook or twitter or by emailing us at fairer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. You can also write to us if you prefer at FREE POST FAIRER SCOTLAND.