Community Community EngagementEngagement

The ground rulesThe ground rules

Jas AtwalJas Atwal

Aims and objectivesAims and objectives

Consider role & benefits of consultationConsider role & benefits of consultationExplore a range of techniquesExplore a range of techniquesTake account of contemporary guidanceTake account of contemporary guidanceInteractive exercisesInteractive exercisesRelate to experienceRelate to experience

Why consult or engage Why consult or engage community?community?

Why consult or engage Why consult or engage community?community?

To tick the boxTo tick the boxTo seek views/opinionsTo seek views/opinionsTo get ideasTo get ideasTo test proposalsTo test proposalsTo build ownershipTo build ownershipTo build understandingTo build understandingTo build trustTo build trustTo legitimise outcomesTo legitimise outcomes

What if no consultation?What if no consultation?

What if no consultation?What if no consultation?

Risk Risk –– unknown responseunknown responseOverlook key issues/objectivesOverlook key issues/objectivesPossible/probable oppositionPossible/probable oppositionRejection during planning Rejection during planning –– abortive abortive costscostsAbortive time Abortive time –– start over againstart over againLose a genuine projectLose a genuine project

What if bad/flawed What if bad/flawed consultation?consultation?

What if bad/flawed What if bad/flawed consultation?consultation?

Stirs up more oppositionStirs up more oppositionSets back process furtherSets back process furtherListen to wrong people/wrong issuesListen to wrong people/wrong issuesRejection during planning Rejection during planning –– abortive abortive costscostsAbortive time Abortive time –– start over againstart over againLose a genuine projectLose a genuine project

Basic principlesBasic principles

Build interestBuild interestBuild trust in process & actorsBuild trust in process & actorsBuild credibilityBuild credibilityBuild degree of consensusBuild degree of consensusBuild support & capacityBuild support & capacity

Use a progressive learning methodUse a progressive learning method–– place momentumplace momentum

Who to consult?Who to consult?

The whole community or representatives?The whole community or representatives?Usual suspects & activistsUsual suspects & activistsBusiness stakeholdersBusiness stakeholdersHard to reach groupsHard to reach groupsChildren & young peopleChildren & young peopleLink with policymakers?Link with policymakers?

Hard to reach groupsHard to reach groups

Reflect on who your hard to reach Reflect on who your hard to reach groups aregroups areGo in on their terms Go in on their terms –– existing networksexisting networksBe creative about how to reach these Be creative about how to reach these groups groups –– setting up focus groupssetting up focus groups

Who to consultWho to consult

WomenWomenMinority ethnic communitiesMinority ethnic communitiesYoung peopleYoung peopleOlder peopleOlder peopleDisabled peopleDisabled peopleGypsies/travellersGypsies/travellersAsylum seekersAsylum seekersRefugeesRefugeesReligious/faith groupsReligious/faith groupsThose on low incomesThose on low incomes

How How -- contact right peoplecontact right people

……..not just the usual suspectsnot just the usual suspectsLocal Authority lists Local Authority lists Existing groupsExisting groupsInternetInternetGP surgeriesGP surgeriesSchools and librariesSchools and librariesSure Start and community centresSure Start and community centresLocal businessesLocal businessesCouncil for Voluntary Services Council for Voluntary Services (CVS)(CVS)Sports Clubs and Leisure CentresSports Clubs and Leisure Centres

Fear of complexity & Fear of complexity & specialismsspecialisms

Constant changeConstant change

Legislation + PolicyLegislation + PolicyTechnology + DesignTechnology + DesignPersonnel, politicians Personnel, politicians Lifestyle, expectationsLifestyle, expectations

A need for certainties can A need for certainties can create create fear of changefear of change

Philosophy of LearningPhilosophy of Learning

Open up to Open up to ‘‘newnew’’ experiencesexperiencesAccess to issuesAccess to issuesShared Shared –– links to otherslinks to othersHelp see things differentlyHelp see things differentlyGround rules Ground rules –– listen, respect other viewslisten, respect other viewsProgressive processProgressive process

Address fear?Address fear?

Living history as a linkLiving history as a link

Use 50 years back to help think 20 years forward …

How we see thingsHow we see things

Affects how Affects how we we behavebehave

And how And how others others relate to usrelate to us

How we see thingsHow we see things

How we see thingsHow we see things

We need to We need to appreciate different appreciate different anglesangles

We cannot assume We cannot assume others see things others see things exactly the same wayexactly the same way

They almost certainly They almost certainly do notdo not……

CommunicationCommunication

We communicate all the We communicate all the time with our time with our behaviourbehaviour

Issues ofIssues ofLanguage + comprehensionLanguage + comprehensionTrustTrustControlControlOwnershipOwnershipTwoTwo--way dialogueway dialogue

Engaging stakeholdersEngaging stakeholdersListening stageListening stage Early Early -- before planbefore planTesting/buy inTesting/buy in MidwayMidway -- optionsoptionsEndorsementEndorsement End End -- preferred planpreferred planAdvocacy/promotion Advocacy/promotion PostPost -- planplan

Research & issuesResearch & issues

Develop strategy & test options

Develop strategy & test options

Agree & refine preferred plan

Agree & refine preferred plan

Present planPresent plan

ListeningListening

EndorsementEndorsement

PromotionPromotion

Testing

Engagement

Inclusive Learning Inclusive Learning TechniquesTechniques

for thinking, for thinking, envisioning, envisioning, analysinganalysing, , reconciling, reconciling, designing, designing, testing, testing, deliveringdelivering

Gaming & role reversal to change perceptions –and understand needs

Players across community?Players across community?ParentParentShopperShopperCyclistCyclistTeenagerTeenager

Storytelling, scenariosStorytelling, scenarios

Scenario planningScenario planningPlotting future scenarios

SOCIAL+ PHYSICAL NEIGHBOURHOODS

Indistinct or declining sense of place

USES +TENURE

Diverse mix of use & tenure

Mono cultural –limited range & choice

Attractive, distinctive sense of place

1 4

2 3

Constructing alternative futures

Ideas + issues workshopsIdeas + issues workshops

Mental mappingMental mapping

Site visitsSite visits

Shared experience of issues

Site + study visitsSite + study visits

Seeing – and listening – is believing

Collaborative design Collaborative design workshopsworkshops

Using preUsing pre--prepared prepared materialmaterial

Drawing supportDrawing support

Urban & architectural codesUrban & architectural codes

Testing: Testing: ‘‘deliverydelivery’’implicationsimplications

Packages of intervention ‘levels’

Testing: prioritisation Testing: prioritisation workshopsworkshops

PreparationPreparation

VenuesVenuesTimingTimingLanguageLanguageCatering Catering DressDressTransportTransportMixed or singleMixed or single--sex sessionssex sessionsChildcareChildcare

Exercise Exercise

You are responsible for devising a mixed use You are responsible for devising a mixed use regeneration & renaissance strategy for a regeneration & renaissance strategy for a deprived inner suburban neighbourhood. deprived inner suburban neighbourhood.

Population over 4,000. Main nearby employer Population over 4,000. Main nearby employer just closed.just closed.

Poor economy, poor housing, poor education Poor economy, poor housing, poor education & skills, fear of crime & ASB, low confidence & skills, fear of crime & ASB, low confidence levels & weak trust of authoritylevels & weak trust of authority

ExerciseExercise

Devise a consultation strategy as part Devise a consultation strategy as part of 6 month strategy/study process: of 6 month strategy/study process:

1.1. What type of consultation & why?What type of consultation & why?2.2. Who do you consult?Who do you consult?3.3. What mechanisms & tools?What mechanisms & tools?4.4. Main issues and risks?Main issues and risks?

A strategic approachA strategic approach

Why are we consulting?Why are we consulting?Who are we consulting?Who are we consulting?What background & context?What background & context?Preparing an approach/Preparing an approach/programmeprogrammeWhat venues & preparation?What venues & preparation?What style, skills & techniques?What style, skills & techniques?What happens next?What happens next?

Key principlesKey principles

Include all groups in all stagesInclude all groups in all stagesPlan each stage carefullyPlan each stage carefullyUse appropriate methodsUse appropriate methodsProvide support and resourcesProvide support and resourcesBe flexible and mix it upBe flexible and mix it upRespect views of othersRespect views of othersValidate everyoneValidate everyone’’s inputs inputProvide feedbackProvide feedbackMake it engagingMake it engaging

….create an intelligent process

Urban MaslowUrban Maslow

Hierarchy of needsHierarchy of needs

1 Self actualisation1 Self actualisation2 Esteem2 Esteem3 Belonging3 Belonging4 Safety4 Safety5 Physiological5 Physiological

Urban MaslowUrban Maslow

Hierarchy of needsHierarchy of needs

1 Self actualisation1 Self actualisation2 Esteem2 Esteem3 Belonging3 Belonging4 Safety4 Safety5 Physiological5 Physiological

Place MomentumPlace Momentum

Hierarchy of needsHierarchy of needs

1 Self actualisation1 Self actualisation2 Esteem2 Esteem3 Belonging3 Belonging4 Safety4 Safety5 Physiological5 Physiological