Overview

UPDATE 20 October 2011:

The idea has evolved.  We are happy to announce the inauguration of the Scottish Synergy Salon.

Real Prosperity and Joined-Up Thinking… Politics should “do you”!

Dr Katherine Trebeck of Oxfam Scotland

“…a diversity of individuals and organisations with a shared commitment to ensuring that Scotland’s future is socially and environmentally sustainable and prosperous” – Dr Katherine Trebeck, Research & Policy, Oxfam Scotland

Profesor Linda McKie, Glasgow Caledonian University

“…a real opportunity to achieve joined-up governance in ways that can actively promote the health and well-being of communities” – Professor Linda McKie, Professor of Sociology, Glasgow Caledonian University

Pat Kane, writer, musician, consultant and activist

“I support this group as an attempt to join up the dots across many areas of Scottish policy.” – Pat Kane, writer, musician, consultant and activist

Don’t do politics?

Well, perhaps it’s because politics doesn’t do you!

This is about changing that.

The following should tell you all you need to know about the campaign.

This is the website for a campaign for a new cross-party group (CPG) in the Scottish Parliament, on “Real Prosperity and Joined-Up Thinking”.

R. Eric Swanepoel and Julia McGregor, co-originators of the campaign for a Cross-Party Group on Real Prosperity and Joined-Up Thinking

The originators are R. Eric Swanepoel (writer) and Julia McGregor (health and social care worker).

The idea of this campaign is to collect statements and notices of support from far and wide, but particularly from within Scotland, and then to send these to Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to encourage them to set up the proposed CPG.

See the latest news to stay abreast of developments.

FAQs

• What are Cross-Party Groups?
• Why is a CPG on Real Prosperity and Joined-Up Thinking necessary?
• What will the proposed CPG do?

Also have a look at the “inspiring sites” links to get an idea of the sorts of issues the CPG might examine!

NB

• The idea is not to burden MSPs with yet another Cross-Party Group to attend.  Rather it is, whenever possible, to bring various CPGs together on issues of common interest.
• The CPG would not solely focus on alternative measures of economic progress. It’s also about joined-up thinking.  For example, if mental health, the legacy of abuse and poor education amongst the prison population are addressed, would this be a cost-effective way of reducing re-offending?

Please support this idea

Once you have read the above, please consider giving us a statement of support or simply letting us list you as a supporter.  The first three statements of support received are linked below.  Please note that there is no need to write as much as these supporters have – even a single sentence would be sufficient!

• Dr Katherine Trebeck, Research & Policy, UK Poverty Programme (Scotland), Oxfam Scotland
• Professor Linda McKie, Professor of Sociology, Glasgow Caledonian University
• Dr Bill Wilson, former MSP

Additional statements of support

Statements of support received after the onset of the campaign may be found here.