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SFCIC Blogs

Blogs written by us, on either our site or an external site

Is 2022 the year for more Participatory Budgeting?

Jez Hall On 16 December, 2021 / Featured, Participatory Budgeting, SFCIC Blogs

The pandemic interrupted the use of participatory budgeting (PB) programmes, but we believe there is a growing appetite to restart them post-Covid, especially grant making PB programmes. While grant making PB certainly has benefits, there are pitfalls too, says Shared Future Director Jez Hall in this end of year opinion piece. The work for Shared Future, he adds, is to suggest ways to make the transition from PB grant-making to consider the larger ‘mainstream’ budgets and reach the ideal situation where we have both.

What a citizen-led low carbon vision looks like

Alex King On 29 October, 2021 / Citizens Inquiries, Climate Change, Featured, SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News

We sort the recommendations from six citizens’ processes into broad themes to find the top five most frequently mentioned climate policy asks.

How Democracy Pioneers amplified the voice of young Glaswegians in the climate conversation

Alex King On 20 October, 2021 / Citizens Inquiries, Climate Change, Featured, SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News

Katy Rubin reflects on Democracy Pioneers, a project to engage Glasgow’s policymakers on climate change through theatre.

Kendal underlines the importance of community-led climate action

Tom Smith On 25 June, 2021 / Climate Change, SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News

Few would deny the legitimacy of deliberative democratic processes. Citizens’ assemblies – or citizens’ juries, which have fewer participants – can provide a mandate for politicians to take action commensurate with the scale of the problems at hand. They reflect the diversity of the local population and

New Directions: Evolutions in Youth Participation Blogs

Jez Hall On 26 April, 2021 / Participatory Budgeting, SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News

The role of young people as independent actors in their own right, able to define and become architects of their future has changed over the years. In thinking this through, we might look back and reflect on how the concept of youth participation has evolved over the decades since the student led protest movements of the 1960s. Much has changed. In a series of 5 short blogs Jez Hall looks at emerging democratic innovations.

The three ways of a good society

Jez Hall On 30 March, 2021 / Featured, SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News

In springtime Shared Future Director Jez Hall is feeling hopeful. In our Easter blog he reflects on the behaviours that build a good society:
Altruism, democracy and stewardship.
Relating back these big themes to the work we do at Shared Future on local democracy, climate change and to support mutual aid. And it all started with a dream.

Build Back Better? Participation in public budgets tackles two pandemics

Jez Hall On 18 June, 2020 / Climate Change, Participatory Budgeting, SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News

There are two viruses affecting our world. The Covid19 pandemic and racism. One natural, one manmade. Both affecting some more than others. People centred approaches are at the heart of building back better. Public bodies can support and enable resilient communities and tackle social injustice by putting public money at the disposal of citizens; to better serve their needs, and to rebuild trust in our government and between people.

10 Useful Questions for those Organising for Mutual Aid during Covid-19.

Jez Hall On 23 March, 2020 / SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News, SFCIC Resources

We’re excited to see the birth of numerous new community led mutual aid groups eager to help their neighbours. Every neighbourhood has tremendous people with untapped skills and experience.
When we join together we are a vital lifeline for those who are bearing the brunt of Covid-19; whether for those physically distancing themselves or those who might not have access to the support they need in this crisis.
Getting and keeping people together is however sometimes easier said than done. At Shared Future our long experience of community development and community organising suggests that there are certain things to be thinking about when undertaking a much-needed community-led response.

Demanding the Impossible? SFCIC celebrates its first 10 years

Jez Hall On 16 December, 2019 / SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News, SFCIC Reports

It’s the season to be celebrating with our friends, neighbours and families. As we wrap up another year ( and it’s the 10th Christmas since we formed Shared Future CIC) we have been reflecting on what has changed, and why the idea of a shared future remains close to our heart. Together we are stronger.

Does Participatory Budgeting always require a vote?

Jez Hall On 20 November, 2019 / Participatory Budgeting, SFCIC Blogs, SFCIC News

There is a very real desire to make Participatory Budgeting more deliberative and thoughtful. One of the concerns about voting is that it doesn’t force people to think through the options. That PB needs more deliberation. Nevertheless Jez Hall of PB Partners/Shared Future CIC argues that the vote is crucial for legitimacy and trust within a PB processes.