We at Talk Shop need a part-time volunteer data analyst/ data visualiser to stengthen the work we’re doing in deliberative democracy. We believe that the future of democracy involves enabling ordinary citizens to take part in respectful, informed discussions that lead to real collective decisions. We offer card based kits for small groups to discuss important topics (see this), and promote larger meetings that make use of the kits too. Ongoing topics include Health & […]
Our New Topic: Health & Social Care
A while ago we said, “We’re excited to announce our new project to get 10,000 people talking about health and social care…” Now we’ve even more excited, because the Royal Society of Arts have given us a ‘Catalyst Award’ to help us to start that conversation. The reason for initiating this project was that we felt that the paralysis on social care funding showed that politicians could not to grasp the nettle alone: citizens need […]
Brexit: a tricky question for progressives
Compass, the left of centre campaigning group, has been grappling with Brexit – with our help. The management committee has favoured a position of neutrality so that Compass could act as a bridge between leavers and remainers. Some members wanted it to choose sides and to advocate remaining, or at least a parliamentary vote or second referendum on the issue. Talk Shop proposed a consultation event coupled with a survey of the membership. Three hundred […]
What should we do about…the way the country’s run
Everyone is agreed: reforming the structure of government is vital to reviving local communities and economies in the left behind areas of the North. But if it is to flourish, this approach demands the knowing and full-hearted support of the people who will have to make it work, and not just the mayors, politicians and captains of industry. That’s why Talk Shop is planning a series of mini-conventions across the North designed to give local […]
Perry’s webinar on Creating Conversations Across Divides
We are grateful to Frances Sealey of GlobalNet21 for allowing us to show the recent Webinar presented by Perry Walker on Creating Conversations Across Divides.
Citizens Income discussion at Hereford’s De Koffie Pot
Here’s a post copied from Richard Priestley’s blog about a recent event we held in Hereford’s Dee Koffee Pot. Last night in Hereford we had an excellent evening discussing Citizen’s Income. Perry Walker of Talk Shop chaired the session and Dr Malcolm Torry from the Citizens Income Trust led a fascinating talk and discussion. To quote from the Citizen’s Income Trust introductory pamphlet ‘A Citizen’s Basic Income is an unconditional, automatic and nonwithdrawable payment to […]
Participatory Card Games
Here’s a copy of a blogpost from www.communityplanningishere.org about how Perry helped with the DEMOCS card method in Northern Ireland. This project aims to raise awareness of the new power of Community Planning in Antrim and Newtownabbey, Newry Mourne and Down, and Mid and East Antrim Borough Councils. Participatory Card Games We are working with pupils from Abbey Community College to develop and design a Participatory Card Game focusing on the themes of Skills and […]
Lessons from the EU Referendum
There’s been time to reflect on the significance of the referendum in the aftermath of the 23 June. Here’s one view – from Martin Yarnit – and we welcome your response in the comments box below. The EU referendum has been an object lesson in how to polarise discussion and reduce citizen trust in the political system. There was precious little dialogue between those who warned of the risks of leaving and those who were […]
Blog on the EU referendum: “I’m right and you’re an idiot”
From Perry Walker My title is taken from the title of a recent book by a Canadian author called James Hoggan. It sums up neatly what the attitude seemed to be of many people involved in the EU referendum debate, whether that debate was face to face or on social media. By accident, I and my colleagues in Talk Shop (see www.talkshopuk.org) found an antidote. This is the story of that accident. In the run-up […]
How we want to grow
Our sights are set high. We want to see Talk Shop used in communities all across the UK. We want to see it used for national issues – with ideas from any participant visible to all the others (a glimpse of the future!). And, we want to see it used for local issues too. We’ve set ourselves a two-part approach of working through nationwide networks, and through one-off local centres. Nationwide networks We’re looking to […]