Philanthropy provokes some interesting reactions. If someone has enormous wealth and they choose to give it away, it seems churlish to question their motives. But at a time when democracy worldwide is at its lowest ebb on record (Democracy Report 2020) and when this coincides with global wealth becoming concentrated within an ever smaller group of … Continue reading Just pay tax?
Government
The bold new plan for an Indigenous-led development in Vancouver
A rendering of how the new First Nations district Senakw could look from the Burrard Street Bridge. Photograph: Revery Architecture The scrubby, vacant patch beneath the Burrard Street Bridge in Vancouver looks at first glance like a typical example of the type of derelict nook common to all cities: 11.7 acres of former railway lands, … Continue reading The bold new plan for an Indigenous-led development in Vancouver
Recording community ownership
It was suggested that someone might consider mapping the growth of community ownership of assets around Scotland. A couple of eager beaver consultants got back in touch to register an interest. Rumour has it the folk from the Community Land Team in Scottish Government say that they’re working on something very similar, and that we … Continue reading Recording community ownership
European funds at risk
EU auditors have suspended payments on the £22m that Scotland receives from the European Social Fund due to concerns over the programme’s management. Unease around the internal systems that were being designed for the European Social Fund stretches back to when the original rules for the management of the programme were being drafted. Advice from … Continue reading European funds at risk
#democracymatters
The way we live our lives is constantly changing; democracy is changing too. Increasingly people want to share in making decisions, or at least have a greater understanding as to why certain decisions have been made on their behalf. In order to make democracy work better for everyone, and especially for those who feel left … Continue reading #democracymatters
Community Development for the Economy and Enterprise
One of a series of briefing papers by Senscot aims to highlight how social enterprise can deliver effective routes to employment through sport-based activity. To do this, key aspects of successful employability programmes are outlined, including examples of diverse funding streams, opportunities to access public sector contracts and potential routes to fruitful partnerships. Another describes the … Continue reading Community Development for the Economy and Enterprise
Action Research in Policy Analysis
A new book on action research includes a chapter by two What Works Scotland research associates, drawing on the collaborative action research projects with community planning partnerships in Scotland. The chapter explores how action research can be a valuable methodology for producing the collaborative knowledge and action required to produce effective policy responses for the current … Continue reading Action Research in Policy Analysis
