Getting People Involved
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Transcript of Getting People Involved
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