Citizen participation is building a stronger Scotland

Tuesday sees the launch of the first self-assessment of civil society in Scotland – the collective term for voluntary sector, trade unions, faith groups and other NGOs.

The report is the culmination of a year long study led by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations which convened a National Advisory Group to carry out the research which will be launched as part the major civil society event organised by the University of Edinburgh from 4 to 7 September.

The main findings from the report show that Scotland is a values-led society in which civil society plays a crucial role in empowering people and that civil society groups have grown in strength since devolution.

The National Advisory Group carried out this assessment of Scottish Civil Society using the CIVICUS Civil Society Index. The findings are displayed in a graphical diamond which allows comparison with other countries.

Ruchir Shah, research & policy development officer at SCVO said:

"The purpose of the Civil Society Index is to kickstart an informed debate on civil society to examine whether it has the strength, values, right conditions and desire to work as a constructive force for social change.

"We are connected in this initiative with 60 other countries around the world. So far we’ve compared our diamond favourably with those of Germany and the Czech Republic."

Lucy McTernan, director of corporate affairs at SCVO added:

"At a time when people are turning away from traditional forms of citizen participation, such as involvement in political parties and elections we are witnessing an increase the number of people who want to make a difference to their local communities and indeed the world and they're doing this through civil society organisations.

"This is perhaps best illustrated by the Make Poverty History campaign which motivated millions of people around the world to join the call to end world poverty. Scots played a crucial role in taking this message to world leaders by joining the 250,000 strong march around Edinburgh."

Further research will be carried out over the next months and a detailed report will be produced for the CIVICUS World Assembly which will be held at the SECC in Glasgow and hosted by SCVO in June 2006.

Ends

Lucy McTernan

Director of Corporate Affairs

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

Direct Line: 07718 526 027

A pdf of Scotland's civil society diamond is available on request.