About

First for those who have no idea what a YES group is, a little history.

YES groups started during the 2014 referendum as a locus for campaigners to meet and co-ordinate their campaigning activities.  The national campaigning body at the time was called YES Scotland. It disbanded following the referendum but most YES groups continued to me and to campaign.

Although the YES side lost the referendum, it is generally considered that YES groups were highly effective at communicating the case for independence and raising support for it.  There are still approximately 300 YES groups across Scotland but far fewer are active. Groups remain active because they believe visibility of the YES movement is important to keep the cause of independence alive and that communicating the case for independence to the general public is a vital role groups can do in a non-party political way. They also believe that local knowledge and the ability to mobilise rapidly will be important when the next democratic event that allows Scotland to choose independence.

YES groups are a meeting place for local activists and would be activists.  They also act as an information source for anyone looking for information about the case for independence. YES groups distribute pro-Independence information to their local communities.

YES groups are local and autonomous.  They co-operate, co-ordinate their activities and share resources with other local groups. There are also regional groups, where local groups meet regularly to share information.  YES Merchiston is part of YES Edinburgh and Lothians (YEL).  More than 20 YES groups are affiliated to YEL.

Much has changed since 2014.

We are a new group.