Good afternoon,
This is the final edition of our weekly e:bulletin as the Brexit Civil Society Alliance comes to an end this week. With the project wrapping up I wanted to have a special edition of the final bulletin where I share with you some of the resources we have created over the past few years of our work. I hope the bulletin has proved useful in keeping you up to date with Brexit happenings. I also hope you enjoy the resources outlined today! As usual there is some recommended reading for your Friday.
Enjoy,
Jacob
Seizing the Opportunity
Seizing the Opportunity: The case for embracing civil society’s role in democracy
Last week we published our new report “Seizing the Opportunity: The case for embracing civil society’s role in democracy”. This report comes at a time when it is vital for those in power to hear from those they are elected to serve. As the UK responds to the Covid-19 pandemic, creates it’s post-Brexit trade policy, and seeks to implement the levelling-up agenda, policies must be shaped around the needs and views of those they will impact. Outside of policy formation, attacks on judicial review, human rights, and the ability of civil society organisations to be politically active present a dangerous attack on democracy and must be reversed.
Our new report, aims to provide a way forward, setting out the structural and cultural shifts that are required to truly include the voices of civil society organisations in democratic and policy-making process.
We have also provided an advocacy toolkit for organisations: setting out how to ask for meaningful engagement and what organisations can do to combat encroachments on civic space.
To mark the launch of our new report we had a virtual event, hearing from expert speakers and opening up the discussion to attendees. In this blog we summarise the talks we heard from the report author, Sue Tibballs of Sheila MckEchnie Foundation and Ruth Ibegbuna of RECLAIM, The Roots Programme and Commissioner on the new Commission for Civil Society, as well as the main outcomes of the breakout discussions amongst attendees. The main theme which emerged from the event was the need or civil society organisations to work together and present a vision for a bold and better future. Read our blog to find out more.
EUSS Resources
One of the issues that the Brexit Civil Society Alliance has worked on over the past few years has been the EU Settlement Scheme: bringing together organisations representing different communities and those working more broadly in immigration to respond to difficulties with the scheme. We are happy to know that this work will continue without us (keep up with the work of the3million, New Europeans, JCWI and others in this space), as it is clear that there are ongoing issues that need to be addressed for example EU citizens stopped at the UK border.
We are particularly excited to announce the publication of a EU Citizens' Rights card, available to all civil society organisations free of cost for circulation amongst your members and the communities you serve. This card may be particularly useful for organisations who work with EU citizens but who are not immigration specialists. The website linked to on the card is translated to multiple different languages. The card and associated resources are being managed by the New Europeans. Any organisations who would like more information or to request copies of the card can do so by completing this form.
We also have resources on the EU Settlement Scheme and the impact of COVID-19 here
Campaigning Resources
Campaign Toolkit
Our campaign toolkit is designed to help civil society organisations to lobby decision makers. Inside the guide is a range of tools and tactics you can use going forward. It also covers many Brexit issues (thought some of these have since passed). Download your free copy of the toolkit at the button below.
Lobbying Act Advice
When the UK was thrown into a general election in 2019 we partnered with the Wales Civil Society Forum on Brexit to secure some legal advice from Blake Morgan LLP in the form of a short guide and checklist to help third sector organisations understand their obligations under the Lobbying Act 2014.
The document provides a brief explanation of what charities can and cannot do, as well as some guidance on assessing whether you are undertaking regulated activity and are likely to need to register with the electoral commission. Download it at the button below.
Podcast
This Is Important
This Is Important is our podcast series that aims to explain and explore key Brexit issues. We’ve been lucky to have been joined by a wide range of experts from across civil society. We have covered the EU Settlement Scheme, Trade Deals, and the Northern Ireland Protocol among other things. You can find them all at the link below and in your podcast app.
We also made a mini-series of short interviews to coincide with our new report. In these episodes I speak to people at civil society organisations about the challenges they have faced with engagement. It is important that organisations are heard by policy makers, and it is also important to hear directly from organisations about their experiences.
Recommended Reading
JCWI have a new report When the Clapping Stops: EU Care Workers after Brexit
Migrants Organise is bringing a legal challenge against the Home Office and has launched a crowd funder here