Policy Lead joins Pathways to Parliament event at the Centre for Public Policy, University of Glasgow

With significant changes coming to Holyrood in May, regardless of the election result, it is important that the third sector is primed to work effectively with decision-makers – and enable the change we want to see for those we support.

The University of Glasgow’s Centre for Public Policy facilitates learning and collaboration between policy and practice, equipping experts across disciplines, sectors and communities (including Glasgow academics and the third-sector’s policy professionals) to work more effectively with decision-makers.

Earlier this week our Policy Lead, Stephen, joined colleagues from across Scotland’s third sector at an ALLIANCE-UofG joint event: Pathways to Parliament: Effective Policy Engagement for Scotland’s Third Sector.

Led by the Centre’s Associate Director and ex-Scottish Labour leader and MSP, Kezia Dugdale, the sessions focused in on how the third sector can influence change using briefings and by building strong relationships with parliamentarians. Given that there will be a particularly large influx of new MSPs come May, and in what will likely be a parliament of minority governance and coalition building, ensuring that parliamentarians old and new are equipped with the knowledge necessary to understand the needs of marginalised communities is more important than ever. Scotland needs MSPs that enact legislation which strengthens and furthers neurodivergent human rights – including a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill.