Events

6pm, Thursday 4 March – online.

The Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland gathered over 100 people from across Scottish society to discuss Scotland’s future, asking questions like:

What kind of country are we seeking to build?

How best we can overcome the challenges Scotland and the world face in the 21st century, including those arising from Brexit?

What further work should be carried out to give us the information we need to make informed choices about the future of the country?

The Citizens’ Assembly did not have a direct focus on Scottish independence and this event is not directly about independence, rather we look at the importance of building engagement and consensus around the future direction of our country.

There are many parallels between the approach the Citizens’ Assembly has adopted and what we’re trying to achieve with Voices for Scotland, so we’re absolutely delighted to have a representative from the Citizens’ Assembly speak to us about their process.

6pm, 25 February – online.

We’re delighted to be joined by Glasgow City Counsellor, Graham Campbell, for this In Conversation event.

Graham co-founded Africans for an Independent Scotland in 2012 and Yes Provan – he has been a passionate advocate for socialism, Pan-Africanism and Scottish independence for 21 years. He grew up in North London and after living in England, Canada and Jamaica moved to Glasgow in 2002.

Graham is a veteran political campaigner and community activist who in May 2017, was elected as Glasgow’s first African Caribbean Councillor. Graham was instrumental in Glasgow City Council holding its first ever official Black History Month event hosted by the Lord Provost in October 2017.

The Scottish Independence Convention is in the process of producing a series on papers on Scotland’s future.

Lifelong activist Isobel Lindsay has produced the latest paper on Scotland’s Security. Among other things the paper considers what defence hardware, real estate and personnel Scotland may inherit, along with an assessment of our future defence needs. This promises to be a fascinating discussion and one not be missed.

We’re hosting another campaign session to bring together those who want to do something for independence.

As an organisation Voices for Scotland is determined to bring people together to create and share a vision of how an independent Scotland will look and function as a fairer, more equal, richer, greener and happier country.

If you share those values we need you to get involved, so join us at our campaign session and tell us what you need and what you want to do to make independence and the opportunities that come with it a reality. Feel free to bring a pal!

We’re delighted to be joined by Mike Russell MSP to discuss the road map to independence.

You can re-watch this event on the BINI+ rewind page and our Youtube channel.

Session two of our planning sessions for campaigning for independence in 2021.

This is a follow-up after session one, but if you would like to join in please email us at info@voicesforscotland.scot and we can send you more information, notes, discussion points and details of how to join session two. Even if you just want to listen in and get an idea of what we’re thinking you are more than welcome to join.

Voices for Scotland is delighted to kick off the year by hosting a Get Together on Thursday at 6pm on Zoom to talk about campaign strategy in 2021. This is a great opportunity for people from across Scotland to come together, share ideas and discuss their priorities for campaigning in 2021.

How we cope with the current lockdown and rising COVID cases in the next few weeks is going to be crucial to how the rest of the year pans out, with the months ahead full of uncertainty.

The need for independence has never been greater and even with an unpredictable year ahead, one thing we can be sure of is the movement continuing to make the positive case for independence.

That’s why it’s so important that we get together, get organised and plan now. For the growth in support for independence to continue in the right direction, we need to have the right conversations with the right people in the right way.

As a non party political, civic organisation, Voices for Scotland acts as a vehicle for people to campaign on the issues important to them, providing resources and support to help people have rational, friendly, informed and educated discussions amongst their own peer group to help create a positive vision for an independent Scotland.

It is not our job to tell you what issues you should be talking about, we’re here to bring people together and provide a platform for the issues that matter to you, your family and community. Our Get Together event on Thursday will begin with an overview of some of the approaches we will want to consider then move into breakout discussions to set out some priorities for the year ahead.

There will be a follow up meeting on 21 January to create an action plan from the priorities identified at the session on 14 January, giving us a solid plan created by independence supporters who put their visions and ideas for a healthier, greener, happier and more wealthy independent Scotland at the heart of the campaign.

It’s this vision, and the steps we need to take to get there, that will allow us to speak to the undecided voters; those who are key continued growth in support for independence.

The biggest indy festival of 2020.

It was an incredible experience that brought together around 2,000 people in the indy movement. It was a festival of idea, togetherness and joy that will hopefully bring light to the campaign to make Scotland and independent country once again.

All the info on the event is here.

Efforts to achieve gender balance in our Parliament and Councils have been, at best, well-meaning but unsuccessful and too slow.

50:50 gender balanced representation is achievable with minor changes to electoral practice. In two-member constituencies, voters place a cross against their preferred candidate on two ballot papers – one of male candidates, the other of female candidates. Result? 50:50 gender outcome.

Sandy is now retired from a career as a Factory Inspector, part-time magistrate and ex-Parish Councillor for Ickworth, he is still an active democrat, political party member and activist.

At the invitation of Scottish Independence Convention (SIC), Bill Austin has written a paper on Borders. The authors’ practical and academic experience spans 40 years across customs and excise, borders, revenues, and defence, in the UK and internationally.

The papers purpose is to outline key ‘borders’ issues that should be considered by a transitional Scottish government following a vote in favour of independence; this is in order to collect and protect our future revenues and society.

We are honoured to be joined by academic and human rights activist, Sir Geoff Palmer.

Alongside his academic work, Palmer is also a prominent human rights activist and is involved in a considerable amount of charity work in the community. He wrote a series of articles for the Times Educational Supplement from 1969 to 1971 on way to improve the education of children from ethnic minorities. His book on race relations entitled Mr. White and the Ravens, was first published in 2001, and he contributed an article to The Scotsman newspaper entitled “Stephen Lawrence analysis: Society is more mixed but racism has not gone away – we still have a long way to go” (5 January 2012). Palmer has also authored a book on the history of slavery, The Enlightenment Abolished: Citizens of Britishness (2007), and has spoken out extensively against the slave trade.

Join us in conversation with Gerry Hassan.

Dr. Gerry Hassan is a writer, commentator and thinker about Scotland, the UK, politics and ideas. He is currently Senior Research Fellow in contemporary Scottish history at Dundee University. Previously he has been Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Policy Research Scotland was Research Fellow in cultural policy at the University of the West of Scotland where he completed and was awarded his PhD. Gerry has written and edited numerous books on Scotland and the wider world: from the setting up of the Parliament, to its record, policy, in-depth studies of the Labour Party and SNP, and looking at how we imagine the future.

We’re really delighted to be joined by writer and activist Sara Sheridan this Thursday at 6pm on Zoom.

We’ll be chatting about her career, activism and independence.

Fascinated by history, Sara Sheridan is an Edinburgh-based writer of over 20 books including cosy crime noir mysteries set in 1950s Britain and historical novels based on the real-life stories of late Georgian and early Victorian explorers. She has also written for children – her picture books I’m Me and Monsters Unite have appeared on CBeebies three times. She occasionally takes on commercial non-fiction project including, in 2017, writing the companion guide to the ITV series, Victoria and in 2019 writing the companion guide to Andrew Davies’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s final, unfinished novel, Sanditon.

With the announcement of the end of furlough and the new job support scheme, we’ll Get Together this Thursday to discuss the impact this will have on you.

Join us for a Get Together to discuss fuel poverty in Scotland.

What can we do to eradicate fuel poverty in an independent Scotland?

With Brexit, the Internal Market Bill and devolution dominating the headlines now seems like a great time to talk about Scotland and the EU.

Let’s Get Together this Thursday at 6pm where you’ll have the chance to ask questions and discuss the big issues affecting Scotland today.

This week we’re joined by Maggie Chapman and Marty Smith.

We’re delighted to have actor David Hayman and writer Chris Dolan join us for an evening of conversation and performance.

Hayman is living icon in Scottish drama, having starred alongside the likes of Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman in Hollywood blockbusters as well as being critically acclaimed for his theatre work in Scotland and around the world.

Chris Dolan is an award winning writer known for his novels, plays, radio dramas and extensive work in television.

For this special event Hayman and Dolan come together to chat about independence and perform work exclusively for this very special event. This will be an entertaining evening and, as always, you’ll have the chance to put your questions to our guests.

As with most events in these strange times, we’ll be hosting this online. It is free but ticketed.

We love these Get Together events. They bring people together from all across Scotland at a time when, for a lot us, we’ve never felt so isolated.

At this Get Together we want to speak to those of you who are relatively new to the idea of independence and want to ask questions, find our more info and hear what others think about the things that matter to you. We’re really lucky to be joined by Craig Dalzell from Common Weal who will be there to chat through the issues that matter to you.

This is an open forum event in a safe space without judgement or shouty politics…basically an event for you, by you. Hope to see you there.

Thursday 03 September at 6pm

This week we’re joined by Iain Black (SIC, Voices) to discuss ‘Campaigning: Narrative or Facts? A story of inclusion, seduction and identification’.

It should be a really interesting discussion, hope you can get involved.

Thursday 20 August at 6pm

Join us for our regular Get Together event where it’s your opportunity to set the agenda and talk about what matters to you.

These informal discussion bring together people from all over Scotland and help to build consensus around the independent Scotland we want to create.

Thursday 13 August at 6pm

Elaine C Smith…In Conversation

Elaine C Smith is one of Scotland’s best known actresses and comedy entertainers and has been a long-time activist  and campaigner for independence. She has starred in numerous roles in popular television comedy series such as City Lights and Naked Video but is perhaps best known for her roles as Mary Nesbitt in the BBC sitcom Rab C. Nesbitt and Christine O’Neal in Two Doors Down.

Join Elaine in conversation about her career, life, Scotland and independence. Like all Voices for Scotland events you can be part of the conversation, getting involved in the chat and putting your questions to Elaine.

6pm, Thursday 6 August

Can We Afford the Union?

Each week we host a Get Together to talk about what matters to you in Scotland.

If Scotland wants to build a better future, a future that actually works for the people of Scotland, then we need two things: people to be engaged and the ability to make the decisions that determine our own future. Without control of our economy, how can we build a better Scotland?

Join us on zoom this Thursday 30 July at 6pm to chat about Scotland, jobs, the economy and planning for the future in a Scotland that can’t borrow money whilst still in the Union.

Where Are We Now?

Join us for a Get Together on Thursday 23 July at 6pm to discuss where we are with independence and where we’re going in the post-Covid era.

This is an open discussion for those who want to chat about their experiences, thoughts, views and opinions in a safe-space free from judgement and shouty politics.

Any questions or thoughts then please feel free to get in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or email us at info@voicesforscotland.scot.