Charter88
"We have had less freedom than we believed. That which we have enjoyed has been too dependent on the benevolence of our rulers. Our freedoms have remained their possession, rationed out to us as subjects rather than being our own inalienable possession as citizens. To make real the freedoms we once took for granted means for the first time to take them for ourselves.
The time has come to demand political, civil and human rights in the United Kingdom. We call, therefore, for a new constitutional settlement."

These are the opening words to Charter88 - first published in the New Statesman in 1988. The declaration prompted over 3,000 people to call for an organisation dedicated to pursuing these ideals.

Since then over 80,000 people have signed the Charter and thousands more have come together to promote its aims and learn about the history, reality and future of our democracy and its constitution.

Charter88 supports no political party. It is an independent organisation financed by its supporters and limited grant funding.

We believe that people should learn as much as possible about how they are governed and the choices made for them.

Charter88 monitors proceedings in parliament and regularly publishes analysis of proposals for reform to our system of government. A comprehensive website with over a thousand documents provides a key resource for students of politics at all levels, or those merely interested in issues such as devolution, electoral reform, freedom of information and human rights.

Citizenship Education and Charter88
The National Curriculum at Key Stage Three and Four states that pupils should be taught about:
? the work of Parliament, the Government and the Courts in making and shaping the law;
? the importance of playing an active part in democratic and electoral processes;
? the opportunities for individuals and voluntary groups to bring about social change locally, nationally, in Europe and internationally;
? the legal and human rights and responsibilities underpinning society and how they relate to citizens.

www.charter88.org.uk

Citizen21
The education unit at Charter88 has produced a range of educational materials to encourage and develop understanding of the political institutions in the United Kingdom and how they work.

Background reading, questions for self directed study, workshop materials and any additional resources are posted on a regularly updated website and a special printed pack.

Democracy Talks
A network of volunteers can provide interactive workshops and talks on issues of democracy, human rights, and constitutional reform that can be tailored to the national curriculum for citizenship education.

Following his observations of such a talk given to A-level students in June 2000, John Morrison commented:

"My visit to Preston Manor High School with Debbie Chay, a lecturer in Constitutional Law and consultant to Charter 88, showed how constitutional matters can be brought alive for teenagers. She asked them to imagine themselves as survivors of an air crash on a desert island. How would they run society? Who would have votes? Who would take decisions and by what sort of majority? "
"Reforming Britain" - John Morrison (Reuters 2001)

www.citizen21.org.uk