Enlighten

May was another busy month for Enlighten, especially against the backdrop of the Scottish Parliament elections as well as renewed discussion about the political and policy direction of Scotland and the wider UK. May’s event programme included an online discussion in collaboration with PolicyWISE examining the results of the devolved elections in Scotland and Wales. Chaired by Dewi Knight, the panel featured Ailsa Henderson, Jane Runeckles, Liz Lloyd and Anwen Elias. On the blog our chair Lord Jack McConnell called for the new Scottish Parliament to collaborate on vaping restrictions, just as it did more than 20 years ago on smoking, which received widespread media coverage. Other articles include Kenneth Ferguson of the CSJ Foundation exploring the growing challenge of cuckooing and the need for stronger protections for vulnerable people across Scotland. Richard Jennings of SSEN Transmission discussed housing, infrastructure and economic opportunity in the northeast of Scotland, while Professor Lindsay Paterson of the Commission on School Reform reflected on his new book and the future direction of Scottish education. Our Research Director Alison Payne took part in a discussion at the University of Edinburgh Business School on the elections and the Scottish economy; wrote in The Sun on the state of health in Scotland, and appeared on Scotland Tonight. Our Edinburgh University SWAY placement student Amélia Webber chaired a post-election discussion panel at the university including Alan Convery, Fraser McMillan and Leah McCabe. Member of our Commission on School Reform, Carole Ford appeared on Debate Night this month highlighting education and public policy issues in Scotland. Director Chris Deerin reflected on the election and the direction of policy in his columns for the New Statesman. As always, thank you to everyone who contributed to Enlighten’s work this month. To keep up to date with our work, follow us here or sign up to our mailing list via enlighten.scot.

Fascinating article and interview with Professor Lindsay Paterson in today's The Herald Scotland. Professor Paterson talks about the problems facing school education in Scotland and what we might learn from elsewhere, issues he will be discussing in more detail in our online event at 4pm on 10 June. For more info and to sign up: https://lnkd.in/e7ZUUZ6C Read the Herald article: https://lnkd.in/eXNfnghV

Cuckooing is the exploitation of vulnerable people through the takeover of their homes for criminal purposes🏚️ Its criminalisation this month followed years of campaigning by the CSJ and  Justice and Care👏 In Enlighten, CSJ Foundation Senior Fellow Kenneth Ferguson sets out key principles for implementation, particularly in Scotland where cuckooing continues to grow as an issue. Read here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJ--Wr43

In an article published by the think tank Enlighten today, Lord Jack McConnell calls for restrictions on displays and promotions on vapes and on the Scottish Government's newly appointed Public Health Minister to lead discussions examining the potential of a ban on the use of vapes indoors. ASH Scotland supports these calls, and urges urgent regulatory actions to protect children from harms caused by vapes. Watch ASH Scotland's previous interview with Lord McConnell, where we talk about Scotland's UK-leading smoking ban introduced during his time as First Minister, and what we can do to protect young people from the predatory tobacco and nicotine industries - https://bit.ly/4fUQQ1Q The Enlighten article can be read at: https://lnkd.in/eMy-gpvr #ASHScotland #Scotland #TobaccoAndVapesAct #vapes #YouthVaping #ThirdSector

“The next Scottish Government should lead discussions examining the potential of a ban on the use of vapes indoors and strengthening protections for children while punishing those who are exploiting young users” Former First Minister and Enlighten chair Lord Jack McConnell writes for our blog on the need to address the rising use of vapes, especially amount young people. Read his full article here: https://lnkd.in/ebUpGi9M

Yesterday we took the first set of keys for a refurbishment of Highland Council homes in Wick, which is part of the 1,000 home jigsaw to accomodate our workforce. This was achieved through the effort and determination of so many people. Thank you! Sophie Mackay Mary Jarvie Cameron Prenter Daniel Sutherland Highland Council SSEN Transmission Ronnie MacRae Laura Bradley Read more about our work in the blog below and get in touch if you want to know more.

"The scale of investment required to upgrade the electricity network brings with it significant demand for a skilled construction workforce, often in rural and remote areas where housing supply is already under pressure. At the same time, many communities in the north of Scotland transmission area that we serve face long‑standing challenges around the availability of affordable, good‑quality homes." Richard Jennings from SSEN Transmission writes for the blog about how major infrastructure investment can deliver shared value for communities and the country. Read his article here: https://lnkd.in/eCVukwKM #housing #energy #infrastrunctureinvestment

Scotland has just come through an election campaign in which the problems facing its schools were barely mentioned. Perhaps more worrying is that there doesn’t seem to be acceptance that school education in Scotland is in decline, despite plenty of evidence to that effect. We are, therefore, delighted to host an online discussion with Professor Lindsay Paterson about his new book, Lessons from Scottish Schools, which examines recent history, international comparisons, and cognitive science.   Lindsay will be in conversation with Enlighten's director, Chris Deerin, at 4pm on Wednesday 10 June Read Professor Paterson's overview of his book here: https://lnkd.in/eyTeQMnw For more information on the event: https://lnkd.in/e7ZUUZ6C

Did you miss our post-election webinar with Enlighten, chaired by Dewi Knight? Fear not, the recording is below 👇 . As part of our brilliant all female panel, Jane Runeckles & Liz Lloyd gave us their twin perspectives as former lead special advisers, sharing unique and constructive insights on opportunities and challenges for First Ministers and policy officials. Ailsa Henderson & Anwen Elias took us into the emerging picture of voting data, behaviour and expectations in both nations - and what it might mean next for parliaments, governments and the constitution. Let us know what you think.

Catch up on our fascinating discussion looking at the election results in Scotland & Wales and what's next for the parties and government. In partnership with PolicyWISE, Ailsa Henderson, Jane Runeckles, Anwen Elias and Liz Lloyd were in conversation with Dewi Knight. Watch back the discussion here: https://lnkd.in/edYUd9eU