Democracy Project CIC

Working to close the gap between people and power.
Democracy, made simple.

[email protected]

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

Your view doesn’t need a microphone.
✍🏻Write.
❓Ask.
🗣️Respond.
🗂️Organise.
👥Attend.
🧑‍💻Participate online.

You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to have something worth saying.
#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

🔍 Who checks the decision makers?

🔍 Who tests the evidence?

🔍 Examines the process?

🔍 Checks the outcome?

🔍 Challenges what didn’t work?

Democracy needs scrutiny as well as decision-making.

#TheDemocracyProject #Accountability

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

📋 The meeting ends.
The public record begins.

Agendas and minutes can help you discover what was discussed, what was decided and what happens next.

Knowing where to look is a democratic skill.
#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

📧 One email can start a paper trail

What was decided?
Who decided?
What evidence was used?
What happens next?

Put the questions in writing.
Keep the response.

Accountability can start very simply.

#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

🏘️ Places are shaped by decisions.
🏡Housing
🛣️ Roads
🚌Transport
🌳 Green space
👥 Community facilities

On #WorldHabitatDay we’re asking:
If you could change ONE thing about where you live, what would it be?

#TheDemocracyProject #LocalDemocracy

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

🛠️ You can redesign ONE part of democracy.

Not change the government.

Change the system.

🏘️ More local?
🔎 More open?
📖 Easier to understand?
🗣️ Easier to take part?

👇 What’s the ONE thing you’d change?

#TheDemocracyProject #ParticipationIsTheMissingLink

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

📊 Data can tell us WHAT is happening.

People can help us understand WHY.

Numbers identify patterns. Lived experience can help explain what’s behind them and what might help.

Good decision-making needs both.

#TheDemocracyProject #CivicEngagement #LivedExperience

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

Democracy doesn’t require agreement.

☑️Challenge ideas.
☑️Question decisions.
☑️Ask for evidence.
☑️Respect people.

Strong democracy needs room for disagreement.

#TheDemocracyProject #Participation #Scotland

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

Who decided?

What evidence did they use?

What alternatives were considered?

What happens next?

You don’t need to be an expert to ask questions about decisions affecting you.

Questions are participation.

#TheDemocracyProject #Participation

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

An empty chair ≠ apathy.

Time. Transport. Childcare. Confidence. Digital access. Language.

When we talk about participation, we should ask not only “Who came?”

but “Who couldn’t?”

#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

If people can’t understand it, how can they participate in it?

Public information should answer:

What?
Why?
What next?

Plain language isn’t dumbing democracy down.

It’s opening democracy up.

#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

Information is power.

But only if you can access it.

Who decided? What evidence did they use? How can you have your say?

On #AccessToInfoDay a simple question:

How easy is it to find the public information you need?

#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

🗣️ You said. What happened?

Ever completed a consultation, survey or attended a public meeting…

…and never heard about it again?

Participation needs a feedback loop:

💬 Asked
👂 Listened
⚙️ Acted
📋 Reported back

Have you ever wondered what happened to your views?

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

🗳️ 44.8%.

Turnout at Scotland’s last council elections.

Why?

• Don’t know enough about candidates?
• Don’t think voting changes anything?
• Don’t trust politicians?
• Don’t understand councils?
• Don’t feel represented?
• Something else?

👇 Why do YOU think?

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

🏘️ How local should power be?

Scotland is currently discussing which powers and resources should sit closer to communities.

What should YOUR community have more say over?

And what should remain national?

#TheDemocracyProject #LocalDemocracy

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

Council → MSP → Agency → Someone else → 🤷

Ever been passed from pillar to post trying to get something sorted?

People shouldn’t need to understand the entire machinery of government before somebody helps them find the right door.

#TheDemocracyProject #WhoDecides

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

🏛️ QUICK TEST.

Could you name 5 things your council is responsible for?

Schools? Housing? Roads? Social care? Planning? Bins? Something else?

👇 Give us your five.

Local democracy is closer than we sometimes realise.

#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

What would make YOU more likely to participate?

📚 If I understood how
👂 If someone listened
💬 Less jargon
⏰ More flexible options
🤝 More welcoming
💡 If I thought it mattered

Or something else?

👇 Tell us. We’re listening.

#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

💬 “I don’t do politics.”

Politics still affects your:

🏠 Home
🏥 Healthcare
📚 Schools
🚌 Transport
🌳 Community
💷 Money

Maybe we shouldn’t start by asking people to care about politics.

Start with what they already care about.

#TheDemocracyProject

[Democracy Project CIC @DemocracyProj_]

🏘️ What ONE thing would you change within a mile of your home?

🚌 #Transport ?
🌳 #PublicSpace ?
🚸 #Roads ?
🗑️ #Litter ?
👶 #Facilities ?
♿ #Access ?

Now the harder question:

Do you know WHO has the power to change it?

👇 Tell us.

#TheDemocracyProject