How Can Scotland Demand Better? - By Peter Kelly
Member Blog: How Can Scotland Demand Better?- written by Peter Kelly, CEO of The Poverty Alliance
Organisations across the third sector and wider civil society are driven by our values. Our work touches almost every aspect of society – social justice, the environment, arts and culture - we cover the lot. Our organisations use every tool at our disposal to bring about change. But whenever I talk to leaders in the third sector, I hear the frustration that we are not going far enough or fast enough to address the challenges we face.
No matter where you are in the sector, you’ll also know that Scotland needs real change. Too many of people are being cut off from life's essentials. Many are deeply concerned about what the future will bring. Across communities, too many people are feeling tired, angry, isolated, and disillusioned. The issue that connects much of our work across civil society, whether directly or indirectly, is the enduring one of poverty.
That’s why the Scotland Demands Better campaign has been launched. It is our chance to come together and demand that politicians make the changes we need for a society where every household can thrive and prosper. The campaign is stepping outside of what for many is our usual way of calling for change. We are building towards a national march and rally in Edinburgh on 25th October this year. More than 140 organisations have signed so far, grassroots groups, trade unions, churches and faith groups. They are all getting behind our demands on jobs, life’s essential and social security.
By bringing thousands of people together in October, we will exert greater pressure to do more to deliver on long standing commitments to address poverty. At the same time, we will show that there is a different way for civil society to come together to call for change. It will be an opportunity for us to stand in solidarity with each other and with those who is impacted by poverty. For some of us, this will feel like a leap into unknown forms of campaigning. For me, it is a necessary step to connect, empower and put our values into action. I hope you will join us to say Scotland Demands Better.
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Join our Leader Learning event on August 28th, 3PM - 4PM and hear Peter Kelly, CEO of The Poverty Alliance, share the story behind their bold new campaign. In this candid talk, Peter will dive into the leadership mindset that drove his decision, he’ll explore the motivations behind taking a different route, and unpack the risks and challenges that came with it. Gain firsthand insight into what it feels like to lead in uncertain territory.
