Tool 3: Examples of Best Practice

There’s not really a single ‘perfect’ example of community engagement that we can refer you to as the most important thing to remember is to tailor your methods and communications to suit your audience.  Each engagement activity can therefore only be judged by it’s effectiveness in reaching who you want to reach, and subsequently achieving, its stated aims.  What we can direct you to are some exponents of community engagement that we would advocate use of when striving for ‘best practice’:

 

Cabinet Office – Code of Practice on Consultation

Code of Practice on Consultation published 2008

This link takes you directly to the Code of Practice on Consultation issued by the Cabinet Office.  Focussing on consultation as the method of engagement and describing the Code as "guidelines", it details specific criteria to be applied to both printed and electronic forms of public engagement, including the often quoted “12 weeks” period of consultation.

 

Dialogue by Design

Dialogue by Design 

This is a limited company established by a group of practitioners in the fields of stakeholder dialogue, public participation and consultation, conflict resolution, and software design. Dialogue by Design specialises in running public and stakeholder engagement processes, using online, paper-based and face-to-face methods.  They have more than 15 years' experience in engagement, including projects for the UK government and many local authorities.  They work with clients to design a tailored process; starting with a clear understanding of the aim of the activity, who is to be involved, any limiting factors, and how results will be used.

 

ESRC Research Ethics Framework

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funds research and training in social and economic issues. They have an international reputation for providing high-quality research on issues of importance to business, the public sector and government.  Their Research Ethics Framework was designed to reflect, disseminate and standardise good practice in the context of a rapidly changing research environment, and to help ensure that the public remains confident in UK social science. This link takes you to the ESRC website where the Framework document and background information relevant to its development can be viewed.

 

ICELE

ICELE

ICELE is a UK-based centre which works with e Democracy experts in the public, private and non-governmental sectors. It publishes on-line guides for on-line engagement that are based on research from the National e democracy project.  It aims to serve as a 'virtual' focal point for collaborative e Democracy initiatives both in the UK and abroad. Within the UK, local authorities, community groups and citizens can use the Centre's online resources to help run projects in their local area.  The Centre takes inspiration from uses of e technology and developments within local government, the private sector and the open source community.

 

I&DeA

I&DeA

Some useful examples of good practice in real situations.

 

Inspire East Community Empowerment

Inspire East Community Empowerment

An on-line database of resources, examples of community empowerment in Eastern England, and information about this newly ressurected methodology which has been successfully used in Latin America, India and E. Africa for developing skills and knowledge in local communities. Look out for the White Paper.

 

Involve

Involve

Involve is a non-partisan organisation which aims to put people at the heart of decision-making. They believe public participation can help solve some of our most pressing challenges and lead to the genuine empowerment of people. Involve's Core Purpose is to show how public participation can positively and productively change the lives of individuals and improve the working practices of institutions. They give advice on participation, empowerment, and community cohesion. The very useful and practical "Community Power Pack" can be downloaded from this site.

 

LGA Principles for Consultation

LGA Principles for Consultation

The LGA has produced a number of useful documents about the practicalities of local government consulting the public.

 

Market Research Society

Market Research Society

A Code of Conduct for traditional market research, as well as other practical information

  

The National Resource and Waste Forum / The Environment Council

The National Resource and Waste Forum / The Environment Council 

Provides details of how the NRWF and the Environment Council worked together to develop best practice guidelines for public engagement on waste management. Comprehensive study findings - covering levels of understanding, behaviours, current best practice, communications, as well as the root causes of the poor reputation of waste management - results in a detailed document that leads practitioners through a structured methodology to ensure effective community engagement for a nationally recognised sensitive and controversial subject.  A copy of the guidelines can be downloaded from this site.

 

People and Participation.net

People and Partipation

Peopleandparticipation.net helps practitioners in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to involve wider groups of people in decision-making. The site provides information, advice, case studies and opportunities to share experiences with others.  The site is aimed at people who are directly involved in planning, running or commissioning public participation activities.  It includes a process planner, a database providing information on a selection of participatory methods and their strengths and weaknesses and a number of inspiring case studies.