Citizenship

Context

• Citizenship - Enhancing citizenship, democracy and participation
• The current discourse around citizenship is claimed by a divisive political discourse that seeks narrow the conversation to immigration status. However the Scottish Civil Society believes that citizenship is about enabling the individual to fully participate in communities - including communities of interest - in the wider society and to contribute as much as they want to. This should include supporting under-represented groups Community Empowerment Act 2015; Community Learning and Development Guidance 2013; Public Bodies (Scotland) Act 2014; Self Directed Support Act 2013; BSL (Scotland) Act. UK: National Citizenship Service; Big Society. Significant barriers including lack of resources, legal responsibilities (e.g. managing own support). Voting, community councils etc. None of it is working as not fully democratic Third Sector - we all have a duty to include communities and to. Citizens Assembly (e.g. Ireland) not about the constitution so what's it about.
• All citizens have the right and the means to take part
• "Participatory democracy strives to create opportunities for all members of a population to make meaningful contributions to decision-making, and seeks to broaden the range of people who have access to such opportunities....[A} strong non-governmental public sphere is a precondition for the emergence of a strong liberal democracy" (Wikepedia).
• 2022 Council election)
• SG needs to be less risk averse in local governance reform.
• Localisation Nordic models of local governance. Icelandic constitution writing postcode, gender balanced. Paid for participation.
• Participatory democracy (Oliver Escobar) Brazil; paying everyone un-taxable amount of money and ensuring equal access to this. People's priorities are practical. Drives different solutions.
• Help empower people by ensuring the barriers are removing for e.g. taking part in public bodies if they are on UC: All barriers are removed to people taking part in civic duties. Provide untaxed payment.
• Minutes are here: www.scvo.org.uk/policycommittee

As a reminder, we agreed:

• The manifesto would be both for politicians but also the wider sector
• It should focus on appealing to all political parties rather than the likely party of government.
• To look ahead to 2030.
• To use the SDGs as a frame.
• To include aims for the next five years and ambitions for 2030.