From the Director

With a wave of new projects, our ongoing events series and the creation of our new Friends network, the first few months of the year have flown by here at the SCF. You can see some of what we’ve been up to below, along with some pointers to what’s coming up. One of the high spots this month, in fact for the year, will be our Annual Lecture on 27 May. We are delighted to have been able to include the Lecture in the programme for Global Financial Services Week and, with both Hamish McRae and Susan Rice on the platform and Lloyds TSB Scotland as our sponsors, the evening promises to be a great success.

You’ll see that our future programme is as varied and innovative as ever, while our recent publications build on past work on wellbeing and public service change. When you consider our small size, I think it’s fair to say we punch above our weight with our policy programme!

Looking forward, you can expect a bit more commentary from us on the news of the day, courtesy of our new website. While we will continue to focus on the big challenges facing Scotland over the next ten years, I think we can use our work to inform today’s debates too. So for instance, our past work on financial capability and inclusion looks very relevant once again. Meanwhile, our long experience of public participation in decision-making can give us an interesting perspective on some of today’s big debates – perhaps there was another way of handling the Trump organisation’s planning application in Aberdeenshire? Watch this space (or rather the website) in future…

Andrew Harris

Events

SCF Annual Lecture 27 May 2008

Hamish McRae will deliver this year’s SCF annual lecture, discussing “Scotland’s Place in an Ever More Global World Economy”. The event will take place at the Playfair Library, Edinburgh University from 5.00pm on Tuesday 27 May 2008. For more information e-mail Gillian Duncan.

Dr. James McCormick to address Ramsay Garden seminar

Dr. James McCormick, Scotland Adviser to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and former Director of SCF, will address the Ramsay Garden seminar on Thursday 8 May. In his talk Dr. McCormick will ask ‘Is welfare in working order?’ This will be followed by an open discussion. Attendance is by invitation, for more information e-mail Gillian Duncan.

Publications

Enhancing Public Involvement in Major NHS Service Change

A new report supported by the Scottish Health Council has been launched entitled Enhancing Public Involvement in Major NHS Service Change.

NHS Boards are required to involve patients and the public in designing, developing and delivering health care services, but when applied to major NHS service change the process becomes increasingly complex. Here we offer our interpretation of the study evidence, set out as a series of propositions for NHS Boards to consider when undertaking public involvement in major NHS service change. Click here to read the report, or for more information e-mail Linda Boyes.

Wellbeing Indicators

SCF, in partnership with Forward Scotland, has this week completed a groundbreaking investigation into the possibility of developing a practical ‘index of wellbeing’ that can provide an alternative measure of progress in Scotland.  The study identifies a basket of 19 indicators covering family & relationships, physical & mental health, environment, work & income, social context and education. The final report has today been published on our website (* see STOP PRESS, top). For more information on the study e-mail Sarah Kyambi.  

Upcoming

Social enterprise, the next steps…

The social enterprise sector is booming and everyone’s happy about it, especially policy makers; so can we confidently predict a future of unfettered growth for social enterprise in Scotland? We suggest that the scope of current policies supporting the sector is insufficient, and that many social enterprise businesses are likely to struggle to deliver the key public services they are being asked to.

We are planning a major new piece of research which will seek to answer the key questions surrounding social enterprise. If you would like to be involved or are keen to find out more then e-mail Matt Jarratt.

Diff’rent Strokes? Decentralising Immigration Systems

While anti-immigration pressure is building at Westminster, Scotland needs to attract more migrants to sustain economic growth and combat population decline.  SCF is looking to get to the heart of this crucial policy issue by conducting research into the options available for decentralising immigration controls, so that different regions get more of a voice in what is currently a reserved policy matter. If you or your organisation would like to be involved then contact Sarah Kyambi.

Car Cultures

We know we need to drive less, we know engine emissions are causing untold environmental damage, that congestion is impacting on our economic and social wellbeing and that our roads are dangerous places for both drivers and pedestrians… but we don’t know what to do about it. How can drivers alter their behaviour to meet the dual challenges of economic growth and environmental protection, whilst still getting to work on time?

In partnership with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Napier University, this research seeks to answer this question by asking the people who count, drivers themselves. If you would like to consider funding part of the project or being involved in the research then e-mail Matt Jarratt.

Get Involved!

Join SCF Friends Network

Become a Friend of SCF to gain access to our rich and diverse network of influence, knowledge and practice at an international, Scottish and local level. Benefits include exclusive invitations to a range of SCF events, notably our established Ramsay Garden seminar series and two specific Friends Receptions each year, and free attendance at future SCF events, including our flagship Annual Lecture each summer. For more information on joining e-mail Gillian Duncan.

Your Views

Much of the work of SCF is generated by the views of our stakeholders… you! In order to ensure we remain on top of the issues that matter to you we are keen to gather your thoughts on the way we work. Please follow this link to complete our short questionnaire. Your feedback is very important to us, thank you for taking the time to offer it.

New SCF website about to go live!

SCF will be launching a brand new website in the next month. It will feature increased access to our ongoing thinking, as well as opportunities to comment on issues raised in our work. In the meantime, visit our current site at www.scottishcouncilfoundation.org for frequent news and events updates.

Your Feedback

If you wish to comment on any aspect of this newsletter please email us on news@scottishcouncilfoundation.org