DEMOS

How government can think differently: A masterclass in holistic policy making
Monday September 18th, 1pm-2pm, Ashdown Suite 1, Holiday Inn, Kings Road,  Brighton, BN1 2JF
In partnership with the new economics foundation (nef) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Speakers:
Sophia Parker, Deputy Director, Demos
Lisa Sanfilippo, Head of Measurement and Evaluation, nef (new economics foundation)
Michael Parker, Chairman, King's College Hospital NHS Trust  
Chair: Andrew Simms, Director of Policy, nef (new economics foundation)

Demos and nef have produced extensive work around systems thinking, service design, futures thinking in public services, and measuring what matters. This event will bring these areas together to look at a practical, holistic approach to policy making. A series of short exercises will stimulate audience involvement, between addresses from expert speakers. The event aims to stimulate discussion and debate about approaches to reform and the politics of public services by looking at a selection of areas including: Evidence based policy making, politics and political life cycles in approaches to reform, the place of targets and measurement, barriers to fresh approaches to reform, and the significance of the ‘frontline’ in services.

Teenage Kicks:  Celebrating the unsung heroes of urban renewal 
Monday September 18th, 8pm till late
KOBA, 135 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2LA
In partnership with Liverpool ’08
Speakers:
Nick Clegg MP, Home Affairs Spokesman
Sam Steele, Executive Producer, Radio 1
Cllr Warren Bradley, Leader, Liverpool City Council

‘Teenage Kicks’ aims to provide a counter-point to the dominant rhetoric that young people have a destructive impact within urban areas. It will challenge the assumption that the overall contribution of young people is a negative one, and instead will show tangible examples, through artistic and performance-based work, of the constructive activity that many young people are part of within their local areas. 

A young person will chair the spoken contributions creating an opportunity to shift the debate around youth onto more positive ground, whilst also giving key individuals from within and beyond the youth sector the chance to consider the issues alongside young people themselves.
 
Lost in Translation: Do politicians and voters speak the same language?
Tuesday, September 19th, 1pm-2pm, Lancing Suite 2, Holiday Inn, Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2JF
Speakers:
Jo Swinson MP
Will MacDonald, Head of Corporate and Parliamentary Affairs, Commission for Racial Equality
Jennifer Moses, Chief Executive, CentreForum
Chair: Madeleine Bunting, Director, Demos

‘They don’t live in the real world’; ‘what they talk about has no relevance to my life’; ‘they’re all the same’; ‘what planet are they on?’

These are the kinds of comments many voters make about politicians. They’ve become deaf to, and profoundly cynical of, our current political language – what their politicians say and how they say it. Sometimes this alienation is in contrast to the voters’ own sense of well-being in recent years; living standards may have risen; their experience of health and education services may have been good but they attribute little of these achievements to the politicians. There is a deep vein of resentment in some voters towards those who claim to represent them and speak for them.
It’s an issue which troubles all politicians rightly – it threatens their legitimacy and the long term health of democratic debate in this country. This event aims to engage leading politicians in thinking about what might be the causes of this alienation and how it can be overcome. Are there new ways to connect with voters? How can politicians inspire trust again? How can the relationship between politician and voter be rehabilitated? What kinds of emotional, personal and political engagement with their elected representatives are voters looking for – and how can politicians provide it?

The natural resources for a creative society: Museums, libraries and archives
Wednesday, September 20th, 1pm–2pm, Meeting Centre 6, Hilton Metropole Hotel
In partnership with Museums, Libraries and Archives council (MLA)
Speakers:
Don Foster MP, Spokesman for Culture, Media and Sport
John Holden, Head of Culture, Demos
Chris Batt, Chief Executive, MLA

This event will discuss Demos’ recent investigation of the contribution that Museums, Libraries and Archives make to society; the value that they create for the public and how they address a range of policy goals from health to creativity.

Demos Greenhouse