The first Place Forum, to be held on March 1st, will look at one of the core themes emerging from the 2022-23 Programme for Government: child poverty and the cost of living crisis.

Speaking ahead of the event Heather Claridge, director of design and chair of the event, said: “Child poverty and cost of living crisis are critical issues for everyone in Scotland. As practitioners working in architecture, planning and placemaking we have an opportunity to work together to design places that can support communities, and help tackle the issues we are facing. The Place Forum will be one place where we can coordinate and work together to get the best outcomes.”

The aim of the Forum is to share experience and learning related to place-based working. The Forum will provide a space for attendees to gain a better understanding of the barriers that still exist in changing the way we plan, design and build our places.

Speakers at the event will include representatives from:

• A Place in Childhood – Addressing crisis through child-friend environments
• YoungScot – Tackling poverty using the Young Scot National Entitlement Card
• Sustrans – Access to Bikes (A2B): Supporting young people living in poverty to access bikes through their schools
• Architecture and Design Scotland – Co-benefits of climate mitigation and community empowerment

Event registrations are now open for this free online event and available until the 1st of March 2023.

You can register for the event here.