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CIVICUS is an international Non-Governmental Organisation established in 1993 to “nurture the foundation, growth and protection of citizen action throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are threatened.” Jack McConnell, Scotland�s First Minister launched the Assembly, saying that the Assembly had been working for ten years on changing lives by opening up opportunities for ordinary people to get involved in their communities, and that he was delighted that CIVICUS had chosen Scotland to be at the heart of their work.

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Robert Pickles, Access Development Officer for the Scottish Disability Equality Forum had been invited back in January to organise a “Learning Exchange”; an opportunity for delegates from all over the world to meet with people doing “interesting things” in their community. The intention was to showcase the work of different Access Panels in different types of places.

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East Ayrshire, Falkirk, Aberdeen and Shetland Panels were invited, being regarded as “models of excellence”.

Shetlanders Gillian Spanswick and Karen Angus recently represented the Shetland Access Panel at the CIVICUS World Assembly being hosted by Scotland over the next three years.

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