Sponsors
| Speakers’ Corner Trust is grateful to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and the Ministry of Justice which have provided funding to enable SCT to undertake its pilot projects and develop its services, including this website, in the UK. |
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Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK. We have an endowment of approximately £950 million and spend in the region of £30 million each year mainly in the arts and heritage, education, environment, and social development sectors. We make grants to organisations which aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK, both now and in the future. We define quality of life not simply in terms of economic well-being, although clearly that is important, but also that we are enriched by our environment, both natural and human, by our culture, heritage, and education, and by our sense of belonging and community. We are also concerned that everyone should have the opportunity to flourish as part of a healthy and dynamic society. The education programme at the Foundation is interested in encouraging young people to air their views on political, social and economic issues. We feel that the Speakers Corner project will help to rekindle interest in live debate and will encourage people of all ages to vote and to get more engaged in local and national decision-making. For further information on the Foundation and its programmes, please visit www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk. |
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The Ministry of Justice Democratic Engagement Branch has actively sought to improve the government-citizen relationship by encouraging open and transparent dialogue and deliberation during the policy development process. The government’s Governance of Britain Green Paper reinforces this agenda as it emphasises the importance of engaging the public and providing genuine opportunities to influence decision-making. The Speakers’ Corner Trust initiative is an integral part of assisting government achieve it’s public engagement agenda, as it provides a practical model for government institutions to engage, listen and respond accordingly to civic issues/concerns. For further information about the Democratic Engagement Branch, visit www.justice.gov.uk/whatwedo/ democraticengagement.htm. |