Sheila McKechnie, YWCA and the Scottish Parliament

30.10.09

I am constantly humbled by the amazing campaigners there are in this country. I am attending a Sheila McKechnie campaigning course where I have the opportunity to gain more knowledge about campaigning as well as meeting others running campaigns. Inspirational.

Last week I went the YWCA Girls Binge Drinking Conference where I was staggered to discover the depth of our teenage drinking problem here in the UK and the depressing evidence of the impact of low prices but worse still, the level of low self esteem amongst teenage girls. The YWCA are, however, really trying to take this problem on and I do applaud them for that.

I visited the Scottish Parliament too and met with the Head of the Community Justice Delivery to talk about the work they are doing to develop community payback. MJW is keen to showcase the process they are going through to support the new legislation to reduce the use of prison for those given under 6 month sentences.

And to finish on a lighter note, I went and saw the new film that Billy Bragg has just released about the work of Jail Guitar Doors. We were guests of Paul McDowell, the new CEO of Nacro, who has been a massive fan of Billy Bragg and supporter of his work. Two of the ex- offenders who benefitted from his work were there as was Maria Eagle, MP – the film was absolutely the best advocate of music and arts in prisons so let’s hope that it goes some way to address the ridiculous negativity that has occurred this year about the benefits of this kind of work with offenders.

Off to the Centre for Social Justice’s Court and Sentencing Public Policy Briefing on Monday – so watch this space!

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