Getting People Involved

Aims of the course

Consider why people get involved in residents’ & community groups & activities

Explore the main barriers to involvement Review the current state of involvement here Consider different sections of the community and

identify hard-to-reach groups Explore a range of tools and techniques for

consulting and engaging people – including participatory methods

Why do people get involved?

What sparked your involvement?

...and what sustains it?

Essential human needs

Safety and security Feeling ‘in control’ Attention – giving and receiving it Emotional connection with others To belong to a community Privacy Respect and a sense of achievement Meaning & purpose

The typical process of getting involved

Apathy

Contemplation

Trial run

Commitment

Barriers

What are the main barriers to involvement?

And how can we overcome them?

Motivational interviewing

DO Get them to talk Highlight successes What do they enjoy and

what are they good at? What are their goals and

aspirations? Encourage action – first

steps

DON’T Talk much yourself Give advice or impose

your own views Say what you would do Criticize or downplay

their concerns

What is ‘community involvement’?

Neighbourliness – knowing your neighbours, positive attitudes to area, ad hoc actions…

Shared activities – engaging in and running social events, projects, groups, clubs…

Influencing services that impact on the locality – joining committees / groups…

Governance - overseeing public & community-based services, joining boards, becoming a councillor…

What’s the state of resident involvement here at the moment?

Who is our community?

Different age groups Women & men Different ethnic / racial identities & faiths Different ‘geographical’ areas People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender People with different ‘family’ roles & responsibilities People with disabilities or learning difficulties Carers Others?

Mapping exercise

Place the name of your own organisation in a circle at the centre of the sheet

Inside the circle, list the sections of the community who are currently well represented

Write on separate post-it’s the sections of the community who are currently under-represented & under-involved

Place each post-it outside the circle (distance from the circle indicates degree of involvement / detachment)

Involving specific groups

What are the particular barriers to involvement for this group?

What issues are important to them? How can we make them feel welcome? Are there particular gate-keepers (people or

organisations) who can help us reach them? What methods might we use to communicate

with them and engage them?

Top 10 tips for inclusivity

1. Contact other community groups

2. Use outreach3. Keep people informed4. Get regular feedback5. Offer introductory

sessions or events

6. Run social events7. Take care of new

people8. Offer training & support9. Make meetings user

friendly10. Share tasks and

responsibilities

Involving young people

Reaching out – youth workers, youth clubs, schools

Youth forums, champions, campaign teams, conferences

Sports, arts, music, games Volunteering opportunities Practical, hands-on projects Peer research + ‘fun’ questionnaires Incentives and rewards

Design

Inter-generational events

Arts projects – legal graffiti wall

Issues for young people

Personal safety & crime Safe spaces to meet Education & learning Facilities for young people The environment Housing Transition to work

Why meetings aren’t enough

Depend on verbal skills – favour the literate & articulate

Many people find them intimidating or boring Need people with time / availability Can discourage creative thinking Encourage fixed positions rather than options Lead to ‘group-think’

The ladder of involvement

Control

Participation

Consultation

Information

Keeping tenants informed

Newsletters, info sheets, reports, leaflets – post or email, display

Notice-boards Stalls / exhibitions Social media Website Texting Local press, radio… Information for new tenants

Consultation methods - individuals

Questionnaires Satisfaction surveys Customer feedback Complaints & compliments One-to-one interviews Suggestion boxes / forums Open days / surgeries Stalls / exhibitions Referenda

Consultation – in groups

Block / small area meetings ‘Special interest group’ meetings Discussions with existing

groups/organisations Website / Social media Outreach – informal contact Large public meetings Focus groups Neighbourhood walkabouts

Involving residents in service improvement

Mystery customersResident inspectorsService improvement

groups / panelsParticipatory

budgeting

Case Study – Bushbury Hill EMB, Wolverhampton

Bushbury Focus – quarterly sounding-board + groups Involvement Register 2-hour promise Informal committee meetings weekly (‘tea & sweeties’) + ‘bite-

size’ training Annual calendar + texting Questionnaire compiled with partner agencies – £500 prizes

from free draw Competitions with family prizes Tiddleywinks voting

Participatory events & processes

To consult To promote discussion

and understanding To agree priorities To plan action and agree

responsibilities To evaluate progress

Participatory methods

Helping people share and analyse their own, local knowledge, and to plan and act

Visual & hands-on – methods don’t rely on verbal skills & stimulate creativity

Hands over control to people participating Can enable easy group discussion Can be used in informal settings - pubs,

shopping centres...

Participatory methods

‘Open space’ meetings

Inter-active displays - visual images / charts / mapping

Planning for real Arts / Photos / Film Design competitions