Achieving social justice and well being for all
We are committed to achieving social justice and well being for all
You have chosen to Sus Out how your group can develop more sustainably by building on your contribution to social justice and well being. This page will help you to understand how social justice and well being relate to your group's activities and how you can develop this aspect of your contribution to the life of your community.
What is social justice?
Social justice is about the fair and equal treatment of individuals and groups in society and equality of access to the opportunities society offers. When people are excluded from the common benefits of society or are discriminated against because of some personal or group characteristic such as gender, ethnicity, colour, sexuality, age or ability, they are not experiencing social justice. If we want a society that is socially just, we need to find ways of eliminating these injustices and to play our part in making sure that society's opportunities are genuinely accessible to everyone.Whatever the main activities of your group are, you can make a contribution to tackling these issues.
What is well being?
Well being refers to the effects that our natural, physical and social environments have on our feelings about ourselves, our relationships with others and our ability to participate in society and to plan constructively for the future. When people are damaged or depressed by the quality of the environment in which they live or suffer disease or mental illness because of the stresses of poverty or unemployment or other social and economic pressures they are not experiencing well being.
Social justice, well being and sustainable development
Development becomes unsustainable when the social and economic divisions between people become so great that they do not believe they share a common purpose or when people are so concerned with short term survival that they are not able to think constructively about the future. When opportunities and rewards are distributed unfairly in society, when some groups use more than their fair share of the world's resources or exploit other people for their own purposes development becomes a competition and sustainability becomes an option for only a few. The challenge of sustainable development is to use the world's resources in ways that promote well being and social justice for all.
How do social justice and well being affect your group?
The majority of community groups come together to improve peoples well being through arts and crafts, sports, learning, health improvements connecting with nature and community regeneration. The very act of coming together as a group has the potential to contribute to peoples well being. Many groups are also concerned with combating the social injustices that they experience themselves or which they see inflicted on other people.
Most of the causes of social injustice and a lack of well being lie outside the powers of community groups, in decisions made by international and national governments, by global corporations and by a wide range of authorities and businesses that provide the goods and public services on which our lives depend. However, community groups are able to speak up for themselves and others when they see offences against social justice and well being. Groups can also try to ensure that their own actions do not contribute to social injustice.
Developing your contribution to social justice and well being
Your group decided that it would like to build on its contribution to social justice and well being and you yourselves to an action you could take to show that you have achieved this. A three step approach will help you to clarify your pledge and to put an action plan in place:
- Develop your understanding of social justice and well being in your community.
- Think about how you promote social justice and well being in your group thinks and acts.
- Review your pledge and plan what you will do.
When you have clarified your pledge and agreed on your action plan a range of organisations and resources are available to help you.
Helpful organisations
Scottish Community Development Centre, Community Health Exchange
Useful resources
Social Justice - A Scotland where everyone matters