Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland
Useful resources
There are many resources that exist about futures thinking. The list below is just a sample of what the Inquiry staff have found most useful and interesting.
Futures toolkit, Local Government Association This report provides an overview of diverse futures methods.
Futures methodologies, outlined on Wikipedia
What if? The art of scenario thinking for non-profits, Global Business NetworkThis practical guide introduces nonprofit leaders to scenario thinking as a means of influencing and planning for the future. It also provides examples of how scenario thinking has practically been applied by diverse organisations.
Scenarios: An explorer's guide, Shell InternationalThis user-friendly book is written for those wishing to undertake scenarios projects.
Relevant websites/initiatives
The National Council for Voluntary Organisation’s Third Sector Foresight initiative.
You can also download a free copy of Picture This: a guide to scenario planning for voluntary organisations.
Foresight, together with the Horizon Scanning Centre, produce visions of the future to ensure effective strategies now, by providing science based futures expertise and access to leaders in government, science and business - Foresight Horizon Scanning
A collection of future issues and trends developed by the Outsights-Ipsos MORI partnership, commissioned by the UK Government's Horizon Scanning Centre at the DTI Office of Science and Innovation - Sigmascan.
Sciencehorizons is a national series of conversations about new technologies, the future and society. It has been set up by the UK government and will run during 2007.
Interesting futures reports
The Future of Citizenship – A report for the Department for Constitutional AffairsLooking out for the Future: An orientation for twenty-first century philanthropists
