| Evidence - Participation - Change (EPIC) |
LATEST NEWS
New EPIC Briefing Papers Launched
Six new briefing papers have been launched as part of the EPIC project. They have been produced as part of the training programme for EPIC and cover issues such as 'myth busting', and 'influencing Government', as well as analysis of policy issues such as the Achieving Our Potential Frankwork. To download the briefing papers click here.
Voices of experience heard in national anti-poverty policy making
The Stakeholder Forum is part of the wider project Evidence Participation Change (EPIC) which calls for greater participation in national policy making and for spaces to be created where people with experience of the issues of poverty can contribute their knowledge and expertise, and contribute to finding the solutions.
“The exchange of experience between Poverty Alliance activists and Scottish Government policy makers was valuable for both. It gave policy makers an insight into the local impact of their work and provided activists with helpful information about current initiatives and services”
Equally Well Review 2010
A short life working group on health inequalities was set up as part of the Tackling Poverty Stakeholder Forum run by Poverty Alliance. The working group ran from September 2009 to March 2010 with the aim to ensure that the voices of people with experience of poverty issues were included in the Equally Well Review 2010. Community activists from Aberdeen, Cassiltoun (Glasgow), Govan (Glasgow), Edinburgh and Inverclyde met together with policy makers responsible for health policy from Scottish Government to discuss the issues of: Early Years and Young People, Exercise and Healthy Diet, Alcohol, Drugs and Violence and Mental Health. They analysed the Scottish Government Equally Well Strategy from a community perspective and informed the policy makers of how this was being implemented in their areas and what improvements still needed to be made.
“It is clear that we need to involve people with experience of the issues so that we get a deeper understanding of why people make the choices that they do”
“There is nothing quite like hearing it from the people who eat, breathe and sleep these issues”
Policy Makers, Short Life Working Group on health inequalities
This work culminated in a meeting with Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health who listened to some of the strong messages coming from the activists, particularly around the effects of funding cuts in their communities;
“How can Equally Well be promoted when so much funding is being pulled? People living in poverty are not being treated equally because they are the ones who are worst affected with the cuts in services that they need the most.”
Community Activist, Edinburgh, Short Life Working Group on Health Inequalities
The experience of these meetings was positive on both sides whereby activists felt like they were treated with respect and that their views were taken on board and policy makers also had the chance to be listened to by people who are affected by their policies. This was reflected in some of the recommendations in the report that closely correspond to the issues raised by the activists. Issues included the need to better engage and facilitate the effective participation of vulnerable people and their communities at all levels – the local to the national. To read the report please click here.
The Stakeholder Forum is part of the wider project Evidence Participation Change which calls for greater participation in national policy making and for spaces to be created where people with experience of the issues of poverty can contribute their knowledge and expertise, and contribute to finding the solutions.
Group of five community activists to meet with Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, this week.
On Thursday, 15 April 2010, five community activists will meet with Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, to discuss the Scottish Government's Equally Well Strategy to Tackle Health Inequalities.
The meeting is a final part of the sub group on health inequalities that was set up as part of the Tackling Poverty Stakeholder Forum, one of EPiC's main dialogue forums. Dennis Moore, Caroline Mockford, Anna Stuart, Karen Mclean and Nell Mcfadden have met twice already with five Scottish Government policy makers to discuss the issues of: Early Years and Young People, Exercise and Healthy Diet, Alcohol, Drugs and Violence and Mental Health. They analysed the Scottish Government Equally Well Strategy from a community perspective and informed the policy makers of how this was playing out in their areas and what improvements still need to be made. Please click here to see the full report.
First Scottish Assembly for Tackling Poverty
The EPIC project took a significant step forward in February when the first Scottish Assembly for Tackling Poverty took place in Glasgow, on 5 February 2010. More than 200 people gathered to discuss how to create a more sustainable and socially just Scotland. People with experience of poverty came together with representatives from community and voluntary groups, MSPs, local councillors and policy makers from local and national Government, to discuss with experts on some of the challenges we face addressing poverty. Keynote speakers included Ann McKechin MP, under Secretary of State for Scotland, and Alex McNeil MSP, Minister for Communities and Housing. The afternoon session focused on the key demands that emerged from the discussions. These will be followed up over the coming year. To download the report of the first Scottish Assembly for Tackling Poverty click here.
New report from the Tackling Poverty Stakeholder Forum
The Tackling Poverty Stakeholder Forum is part of the Evidence - Participation - Change (EPiC) project. The Forum is made up of senior level Scottish Government Civil Servants, COSLA, Local Authorities, the Third Sector and community activists with direct experience of poverty issues. The Forum aims to provide a space for partnership working and to regularly assess the impact of the joint COSLA and Scottish Government anti poverty framework 'Achieving our Potential' (AOP). The Forum will meet every 6 months with working groups taking place in between. The first Stakeholder Forum took place on Friday, 18 September 2009.
Please click here to see the report of this first meeting.
Voices for Change, Creating Change
Free training course to help you get your voice heard and take action on issues that are important to you.
Do you feel that there is a need for change in the communities where we live and across Scotland in general? Have you ever had something to say on an issue but didn’t know who was best to say it to? Ever wondered how decisions get made in the Scottish Government and who makes them?
Then this training is for you!
We currently have no training dates schedueld. However, if you would specifically like training in your area contact the EPIC team.
Two day training course on:
- How to get your voice heard in the right places and the best way to do it
- How decisions are made, who makes them and how you can get involved
- What the Scottish Government is doing to tackle poverty and how you can be heard on issues that you think are important.
- Understanding what is being done on issues that you think are important.
This training will provide:
- Information on future opportunities to meet with decision makers in the Scottish Government to make your voice heard
- Opportunities to meet with other people and organisations working on similar issues to come together and make your voice stronger
- Opportunities to meet with key people who work on different issues
- Support to carry out actions after the training.
What some of our participants said about the 'Voices for Change, Creating Change':
“Constructive and enjoyable training”
“The training was useful, well delivered and I found it very interesting and stimulating"
“Very informative"
“I never really knew what to expect, I found this course really interesting"
This training is aimed specifically at the following groups:
- Individuals who have experience of poverty related issues (i.e. living on a low wage/benefits, living in a disadvantaged community etc)
- Smaller community based and voluntary organisations working on the ground with people who are facing the issues.
If you are a larger organisation and you work with people who are affected by these issues and think it may be of benefit to them please get in touch also.
Training sessions are free and contributions to childcare costs and travel are available. Refreshments will be provided.
What is EPIC all about: Getting your voice heard and making a difference
The new four year project from the Poverty Alliance that needs YOUR participation!
This project will bring activists from all backgrounds together to influence the anti-poverty policies in Scotland.
A chance to make grass roots experiences heard by the Scottish Government and to work with others to lay the basis for action to tackle poverty in Scotland.
An opportunity to join forces and make our voices stronger!
What is it all about?
• This project aims to support community based organisations and individuals within them who have experience of the issues to get involved in local and national policy making
• It aims to get voices heard from the ground at Scottish Government level.
We aim to do this through:
1. Training with community based organisations and individuals with first hand experience of the issues
2. Development of new spaces for discussion and debate
3. Participatory research undertaken by individuals experiencing the issues.
Talking it out – creating better solutions
• Opportunities to bring people who have a stake in the issues of poverty together to take part in exchanges and discussions to feed policy making with grass root realities
• Putting people with experiences of the issues at the core of every dialogue
• One national event a year to be organized which aims to put poverty high on the agenda
• An ongoing group which will meet twice a year to contribute to the development of the Scottish Government's ‘Achieving our Potential Framework’ – the Government’s strategy for tackling poverty and inequality.
Training
• Information and training will be provided to support community groups and the individuals within them to effectively participate in making change
• Training will be tailored to skills levels and needs. This will be developed in partnership with the groups and individuals
• Training will be focused on identifying important issues within the community and how best to use experience to bring about change (for latest training dates see below).
Research
• Providing an evidence base of issues being experienced by communities to be fed into the dialogue processes
• Fully participatory – identified by, carried out by and presented by those who have experience of the issues
• Full training programme and continuous ongoing support.
Who can be involved?
We are seeking the involvement of everyone!
Activists, volunteers, staff – anyone who has experience that they want to make heard, who refuses to accept that poverty is inevitable and wants to join forces to strengthen the fight against it.
Contributions to childcare costs and travel are available.
For more information contact the EPIC team:
Administration Assistant
Kathryn Collins
kathryn.collins@povertyalliance.org
Community Research Officer
Fiona McHardy
fiona.mchardy@povertyalliance.org
Policy and Parliamentary Officer
Sarah Welford
sarah.welford@povertyalliance.org
Tel: 0141 353 0440
The EPIC project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland.
