Infrastructure for empowerment

Note: this section relates to q3 in the DM2 consultation

Some communities and community organisations face more barriers than others to engage with democracy and take advantage of opportunities for empowerment. This includes groups that are based in areas with higher levels of poverty and groups that represent communities who are more likely to experience discrimination.

Community organisation and infrastructure can be fragile in disadvantaged communities where there are fewer resources. People living in these communities are likely to face greater barriers to engagement and to taking up opportunities presented by legislation meant to empower communities and strengthen democracy.

We need to be careful that approaches are widely applicable and not only in those affluent communities where existing experience and skills provide local organisations with advantages. We need to recognise that without adequate support infrastructure being in place, it is less likely that more disadvantaged urban (and rural) communities will be in a position to engage with opportunities arising from DM2 in in a meaningful way.

Support for communities, including both community capacity building and public sector capacity building, is key. Without this, there is a risk that changes to democracy in Scotland will primarily benefit communities with greater confidence and higher levels of existing knowledge and skills.

Contents

• DM2 response home

• Context and ambition

• The existing policy context

• Core principles

• New powers

• Representativeness and accountability

• Support for Communities

• Conclusion & next steps