Community Regeneration in Scotland - Past and future investment.

Here are the words of someone who has worked in and for communities all their life. has worked hard and knows what works.'We, that's our joint groups have been trying so hard to get the peoples voice, not only heard but acted upon. I feel we need to persuade Government officials (civil servants) that we are not a threat to them or their jobs, that we simply want a better quality of living. We want our communities saved before it is too late, as the communities are our legacy to the people who come after. We are trying so hard to share a community facility for the good of all, and in doing so give the people something back to call their own, as after all they are ones who invested themselves to form that community. Sad though, is the fact that x organisation want it all to themselves and they already have the majority of community assets in the particular area. Nice to hear from you anyways as in a strange way your email gave a bit of that illusive element, encouragement to me, which helps to keep me going. I have attended regeneration events both at home in the UK and in Europe noticing the great differences. I feel our civil servants in Scotland lack maturity, confidence and conviction that they have the power to change gear and implement real regeneration. They mostly lack vision. Shame when we were once noted as quixotic by nature.'

Note the key words in this thought provoking piece. Better quality of life, communities are our legacy to the people who come after. Share, give back, invested themselves ( not money!)Encouragement.

Lesson in applying appreciative inquiry and encouraging listening and action. The last paragragh of the quote says what Scotlands civil servants lack. Here is another way to say the same thing that will get people to pay attention and do something about it in my view. In answer to the question 'Its 2009 in Scotland what is happening reference civil servants and government? How are they thinking acting and feeling? Answer: 'They are confident, act with maturity and conviction. They are changing gear and implementing real regeneration. They display and voice clearly a vision of Scotland's future. They embody the best characteristics of Scotland's past eg quixotic , etc as they talk and act. What are the best characteristics as displayed by Scotland in the past? Tell us please what you see and know? This is very relevant for people who are born and bred in Scotland and also those who have come to live here and call it home. Over to you.