A key discussion paper has appeared from our good friends at the Centre for Thriving Places, working with Carnegie UK Trust. Both organisations have been working to help build thriving places (where people can prosper in all kinds of ways, not simply financially) which are both fair (in terms of possibilities and opportunities for all) and also green (sustainable in the long term). The paper by Liz Zeidler and others takes in important step forward in looking at eight different models (from around the UK and internationally) and examining whether they are saying broadly the same thing.
The short answer is – YES! The paper looks at eight (count them!) models including SEED from Carnegie, Doughnut Economics from Kate Raworth and co, Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, The National Performance Framework (Scotland), The ONS Wellbeing Dashboard (UK), The UN Sustainable Development Goals, and The OECD Better Life Index. The conclusion is that, yes, all these frameworks are pointing in very much the same direction although with differences of emphasis for the various elements.
The metaphor Liz and her colleagues use in the paper is that the ingredients list for better place building is now quite well understood. The next step is to move from ingredients to recipes; how to use the various elements together in real situations to produce results which fit different places.
I would add to the metaphor by illustration. Imagine a kitchen store cupboard with basic ingredients for baking: flour, sugar, eggs, butter/vegan spread, milk, baking powder. We’ve all agreed that these are key parts of a positive and satisfying baking experience. AND the next thing is to actually make things and share how we’ve done it. So, this simple list can be the way to sponge cake, scones, pancakes, buns, cookies, muffins and more. Add some fried fruit to expand the list. Or cheese (cheese scone anyone). Add yeast for bread. These smaller special ingredients can expand the range out of all proportion to their size and cost.
And of course which recipes might be developed depends on the place in question and what the people of that place want and value. It’s time to stop producing frameworks (enough!) and start using them for real and real situations to build, learn and expand better places, thriving people and a sustainable future.
Is the relevant at the level of Villages In The City? I think it is. Connecting your efforts at a neighbourhood level with useful national and international frameworks can help bring people with you, connect local to global and also be useful if and when you seek funds. So take a look!
Download The Shared Ingredients For A Wellbeing Economy paper here (pdf, free download).
Join the Wellbeing Economy Alliance here.
