# Why #reimaginedemocracy? On Thursday March 15th next week, a stramash of people frustrated with the way political decisions are made will descend on the Mac in Belfast. They will be binded by their concern for democracy, and the way in which society is being increasingly sidelined by greedy and power-hungry elites. 2018 is the year for this. We have seen the rapid increase in people power from the #metoo anti-sexual assault movements and youth anti-gun violence demos in the US. The millennials have now hit adulthood, and bring with them a maturity and sense of global responsibility to people and planet, such as rarely seen in their older peers. This is a time when increasing inequality and environmental damage both in these Islands and globally have left so many people behind the advances in technology, shifts in political power and access to social security enjoyed by others. Yet it is also the first time where the world has come together to define a set of common Sustainable Development Goals, built on a shared universal base of human rights, and commitment to greater openness of government institutions. This paradox lies at the heart of #reimaginingdemocracy. Across our societies at home and abroad we have never been so divided, fearful of technology, ‘others’ and changing society. Yet we now finally have the tools available to build the sustainable society we need and deserve. So next week, the Open Government Pioneers UK Project in partnership with the Northern Ireland Open Government Network, will host a conference in Belfast to do three things. Firstly, we will give ourselves the space to voice our frustration and anger at the way in which people are being patronised on the big decisions that affect their future. Second, we will explore the alternatives, using the progressive Sustainable Development Goals to guide us. Third, we will tap into the increasingly powerful open government movement to set the actions we want to see government and institutions take to bring about the transparency, accountability and participation our people and planet deserve. The conference takes place at the Mac in Belfast on Thursday 15th March as part of the Imagine Festival. Book your place or get the livestream link at the #reimaginingdemocracy [conference webpage](https://www.opengovernment.org.uk/event/re-imagine-democracy-conference/). --- ## About SCVO SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) is the national membership organisation for Scotland's voluntary sector. Our role is to champion the role of voluntary organisations in Scotland and to support them to do work that has a positive impact. SCVO supports members and the wider voluntary sector with all aspects of setting up and running a voluntary organisation. SCVO represents the needs and concerns of the voluntary sector to the Scottish government in Holyrood and UK government and Westminster. Through our learning and events programme SCVO offers training and development opportunities to the sector. Members access an extensive membership benefits package including specialist, in-depth, 1-to-1 guidance from our Information Services team and from professional service partners. Access to exclusive membership networks (including comms, employers, governance and policy) supports members to grow their connections, stay up to date, exchange ideas and views with peers, and learn through tailored learning opportunities. SCVO members enjoy free access to Funding Scotland Premium to stay on top of funding opportunities to support their organisation’s financial resilience. Discounts and savings on SCVO products and services (including our HR service, managed IT support, payroll service and events and training) and partner offers provide members with support to allow them to focus on delivering their organisation’s goals. Further SCVO products and services include [extensive digital support](https://scvo.scot/support/digital), a climate action resource [Growing Climate Confidence](https://climateconfident.scot), a voluntary sector publication [Third Force News](https://tfn.scot) and a voluntary sector jobs and recruitment service [Goodmoves](https://goodmoves.org). For more information on SCVO membership, visit [SCVO membership](https://scvo.scot/membership)