Engagement can be seen in the context of The Ladder of Participation which includes: Informing; Consulting; Involving; Collaborating and Self- determination.
Empowerment
Self determination
Type of activity:
- Minimal input from public sector/ provide support when requested
- Community capacity building
- Active Community Groups and Organisations
Tools and techniques / resources:
- Online support and resources for self-service
- The Councils Community Development Team can visit and support communities should they require assistance
Case studies and tools
- An online toolkit for community led action planning
- Support available from the Community Development team – Community Development
- Grants and funding information and tools
- Examples of projects funded – Funding to support
Empowerment
Empowerment recognises the independent role that communities can play, and what they can be supported to achieve, using assets and resources for the purpose of improvement and transformation.
Type of activity:
- Direct decision making as a sole result of community consultation and involvement
- Voting
- Participatory budgeting
Tools and techniques / resources:
Consul Democracy online citizen participation tool: consuldemocracy.org
Participatory budgeting resources and tools: pbscotland.scot
Case studies and tools
- Rights of Children and Young People in Argyll and Bute
- Active Asset Transfer Requests
- Internal & External examples of PB
- ABOIP ( Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan) consultation where results of engagement were directly implemented by Community Planning partners as 3 priority outcomes – ABOIP 2023-4 summary
Engagement methods (increasing participation)
Involvement
Type of activity:
Ongoing process of engagement – workshops, deliberative polling, citizen juries, deliberative workshop.
Focus groups to gather views to inform shaping service decisions.
Involving people in the decision on the final design of a project/ building/ park etc. by presenting options to choose from.
Feedback forms.
Charrettes and other examples of participants shaping the outcomes of engagement.
Community needs assessments.
Tools and techniques / resources:
involve.org.uk: Rights under Community Empowerment Scotland Act 2015:
Council pages
- Participation Requests | Argyll and Bute Council
- Active Asset Transfer Requests
- Further support available for asset transfer process – DTAS Community Ownership Support Service
Case studies and tools
- Rights of Children and Young People in Argyll and Bute
- Feedback forms after events to help shape future
- Area wide example using the Place Standard Tool How good is your place? (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
- Youth engagement event Young Islanders at Big Ideas 2024! – yin.scot
- An innovative approach to engagement conversations Community Assets for Living Well Art of Hosting Workshop – Argyll & Bute Third Sector Interface
Collaboration (co-production)
Type of activity:
Participatory decision-making
Citizen advisory panels
Open space events
Service planning
Art of Hosting
Tools and techniques / resources:
The Council’s Service Design approach – Service Design – My Council Works
Consul Democracy: consuldemocracy.org
Case studies and tools
- Rights of Children and Young People in Argyll and Bute
- Asset Transfer Request for Calgary Bay | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
- Action planning to deliver ABOIP ( Argyll and Bute Council’s Outcomes Improvement Plan – see case studies.
- HSCP – Health and Social Care Partnership -examples of collaboration
- SCDC – Scottish Community Development Centre engagement examples: Community engagement examples | SCDC – We believe communities matter
- Examples of co-production: coproductionscotland.org.uk
- Community-led Action Planning Argyll & Bute
Consultation
Type of activity:
One off engagement opportunities – focus groups, surveys, public meetings, networks and forums
Gathering views through annual surveys on existing service provision
Asking for comments on draft documents, plans, strategies
Seeking views to inform the development of council strategies usually sits between consultation and collaboration.
Tools and techniques / resources:
Council resources on engagement:
Consultation App Community Engagement – My Council Works
Consul consuldemocracy.org
Case studies and tools
Informing
Type of activity:
Providing the information people need to form and give views – newsletters, websites, exhibitions, leaflets, posters, social media, news releases.
Ongoing information provision throughout a project – emails, leaflets, face to face engagement, council meetings, members seminars
Picture / drawings
Videos to inform
Tools and techniques / resources:
Newsletter
Websites
Corporate communication channels
Case studies and tools
- Community Development Newsletter Community Development | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
- CPP Newsletter Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Bulletin | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
- Cascade (staff newsletter)
- Funding Alert Monthly funding alert | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
- Alert service on key council services
- Keep in the loop | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
- School websites/ newsletters
- Full Partnership graphic.pdf from Community Planning Partnership Management Session September 2024
Further information
Further information on ladder of engagement which has been adapted to be specific to local authorities can be found here: The ladder of citizen participation and community engagement (citizenlab.co)
Engagement covers a broad range of activities for the council. The method of engagement will vary depending on purpose. One engagement exercise may involve 2 or 3 different methods, e.g. –
- To consult and inform of planned changes to services or new strategies / policies and seek feedback – Consultation
- To inform the development of design and delivery of services, including a service design approach – Informing, Collaboration
- To identify needs and key issues affecting local citizens and communities – Collaboration
- To test or pilot new services or approaches to service delivery – Involvement
- To assess the impact of changes in resources or new policies or services – Collaboration, Involvement
- To plan for the delivery of services in the future – Collaboration
The Scottish Government has started using the term ‘Participation’ rather than engagement, see the Scottish Government’s Participation Handbook