Impact Our Democracy is a half day event for individuals, groups and organisations that have been part of the Our Democracy campaign as partners, supporters or directly involved in ‘Act As If You Own the Place’ events around Scotland. Following on from our last event, which showcased people already taking back control in their communities, this will be the next step - to discuss how we can come together to give people the power they need to take decisions locally.

During the event we will hear how local democracy currently works in Scotland, as well as examples of alternative structures where people have a greater control over what happens in their communities.

Although we have seen democracy hollowed out and power increasingly centralised nationally and globally, there has been an increased engagement with the structures of local governance. Considerable gains have been made from Porto Alegre to Barcelona and Oslo. Impact will look at the forthcoming Democracy and Local Governance Bill as a concrete example of where we can strive to effect change in Scotland.

An important part of the event will be workshopping what reforms and elements we think should be included in this Bill to support collective power building at the local level. The Our Democracy coalition will form a campaign around these asks and take them to the Scottish Government.

Speakers include:

Lesley Riddoch, Journalist

Mette Gundersen, Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities

Andy Wightman MSP, Local Government spokesperson for the Scottish Greens

Willie Sullivan, Electoral Reform Society Scotland

Neil McInroy, CLES

The event will be held on Saturday 21 April, 11am-3pm at Out of the Blue in Edinburgh. A complimentary lunch will be provided. Although tickets are free please reserve a place so we have an idea of numbers.

We hope you can join us.