Change is in the air. The relationships between different levels of Government – the City Council, the Scottish Government, Westminster and Europe – are developing fast. The Scottish Government clearly has ambitions for Community Planning to engage more meaningfully with its constituent parts, driving Public Service Reform built upon the principles of Prevention and Integration.
In this complex – sometimes confusing – web of relationships, where does the Third Sector (at a neighbourhood, city and national level) fit? Staunchly apolitical and non-aligned (and quite rightly so!) how does the Third Sector engage effectively with politicians and political parties? Surely ‘apolitical’ doesn’t mean ‘disengaged,’ just as it doesn’t mean ‘amoral.’ Equality, Social Justice, Community Empowerment, Social Value – the work of the Third Sector is often an ethical enterprise, and we can hardly afford not to engage with politicians, parties and the political process to further the Sector’s aims.
Here’s an opportunity for just such effective engagement. On behalf of Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface EVOC is hosting a series of Twilight Talks on a Tuesday from 5.30-7.00pm from Tuesday 6th March through to Tuesday 3rd April. Spaces are limited, and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please book your places by emailing Dianne Morrison.
A first step was the publication of the Edinburgh Third Sector Manifesto for Council Elections 2012. This set of Talks builds on that – creating a space for you to have your say.
Change is certainly in the air – will the Third Sector be passive bystanders? Or will we engage actively to shape the change we want to see?
I know which one I’d prefer.
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