An article examined the nature of collective participation (engagement by children and young people that enabled them to influence the initiation or direction of a project) in child welfare settings, drawing on four case studies from Wales, France, and Finland. It said that the case studies highlighted elements that supported children's participation (such as communicative spaces, time, money, knowledge, social position, attitudes, social networks, institutional commitment, equipment, food, and transport), as well as challenges related to generational barriers and the distribution of resources. The article proposed a model (or 'lattice of participation') for conceptualizing collective engagement in participatory projects.
Source: Cath Larkins, Johanna Kiili, and Kati Palsanen, 'A lattice of participation: reflecting on examples of children's and young people's collective engagement in influencing social welfare policies and practices', European Journal of Social Work, Volume 17 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Sep
A report said that public services in the United Kingdom should be reorganized around principles of public engagement and involvement, and discussed how this might be achieved. The report included ten case studies.
Source: Emma Clarence and Madeleine Gabriel, People Helping People: The future of public services, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Sep
An article examined local government engagement and communication with citizens in a large city in the United Kingdom. It concluded that engagement and communications strategies should be more closely integrated and that the success of such strategies relied upon an empirically informed understanding of what constituted public engagement, and what skills and practices were necessary for successful engagement with citizens.
Source: Stephen Coleman and Julie Firmstone, 'Contested meanings of public engagement: exploring discourse and practice within a British city council', Media, Culture & Society, Volume 36 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Sep
An article examined 'coinquiry' approaches to public engagement, critically reviewing projects funded by the United Kingdom Beacons for Public Engagement on the topic of environment and sustainability.
Source: Audley Genus, 'Coinquiry for environmental sustainability: a review of the UK Beacons for Public Engagement', Environment and Planning C, Volume 32 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Aug
A new book examined citizen and community participation in policing, how concepts around participation in crime control had come to inform government policy and contemporary police practice, and the impact of citizen participation on political decision-making and police accountability.
Source: Karen Bullock, Citizens, Community and Crime Control, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Aug
An article examined the policy shift in planning in the United Kingdom since the inception of the Planning Act 2008, drawing on research with participants in recent and past consultations regarding nuclear power infrastructure. The article argued that the Act had radically altered the nature of public engagement with government policy, which had contributed to the postpoliticization of the planning framework in certain arenas. The article discussed the potential consequences.
Source: Phil Johnstone, 'Planning reform, rescaling, and the construction of the postpolitical: the case of The Planning Act 2008 and nuclear power consultation in the UK', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Volume 32 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Aug
A report discussed police reform and said that, in order to achieve ongoing savings and support the hardest to help, the police would need to work differently. The report called for a new form of neighbourhood policing to engage and support people as 'expert citizens', defined as people who would not only keep themselves and their property safe but also work closely with local officers.
Source: Clare Fraser, Camilla Hagelund, Katy Sawyer, and Myles Stacey, The Expert Citizen, Reform
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Jul
An article examined projects funded by the United Kingdom Beacons for Public Engagement on the topic of environment and sustainability. It outlined factors that limited the capacity of the initiative in its efforts to achieve public engagement, as well as the practice of coinquiry.
Source: Audley Genus, 'Coinquiry for environmental sustainability: a review of the UK Beacons for Public Engagement', Environment and Planning C, Volume 32 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
A think-tank report said that the National Health Service in England was at a critical juncture, where reduced funding and increasing service demands meant that the existing system was unsustainable. It said that neither greater privatization nor further state control alone would be a practical solution, and argued that health mutuals, owned exclusively by patients, would be able to provide whole-person, joined up care, and would improve the patient experience, improve health outcomes, and be more cost effective. The report made a range of recommendations, including: for an independent review of patient engagement; for a pilot scheme for the proposed model of healthcare commissioning; for a revised role for Monitor and the health service regulator; for engagement of the health sector with friendly societies; and for a new patient right to holistic care.
Source: Mo Girach, Karol Sikora, and Adam Wildman, Power to the People: The mutual future of our National Health Service, ResPublica
Links: Report | ResPublica press release
Date: 2014-May
A study examined neighbourhood improvements in Calton, Glasgow, the process by which these came about, and the impact on local communities and organizations. The study focused on work undertaken in the Calton area since 2010 through the 'Equally Well' approach to tackling health inequalities – particularly the street audit undertaken in 2010. Street audit involved a small group of up to ten local residents and businesses, and up to 15 other stakeholders, assessing their area on foot, exploring the routes, connectivity, and identity within the area and how these could be improved. The report examined perceptions of physical change, people's involvement, impact of the change, and the lessons learned.
Source: ODS Consulting, Assessing the Health Impacts of Neighbourhood Improvements in Calton: Final report, Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Links: Report | Associated documents
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the level of public participation in neighbourhood (or 'community') policing in England and Wales. It said that the majority of the population did not participate in shaping the direction of local policing, but there was no evidence to suggest that the outcome from limited participation was regressive in nature.
Source: Karen Bullock and Katy Sindall, 'Examining the nature and extent of public participation in neighbourhood policing', Policing and Society, Volume 24 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
A report examined ways in which 'co-production' of services – in an equal and reciprocal relationship between professionals, service users, their families, and their neighbours – could be used more widely in contexts including health, housing, and social care. It said that the approach was already used in citizen justice panels, co-operative nurseries, and time banks, and argued that there were benefits to service users, and their friends and families, as well as significant potential savings to the cost of public services. The report examined how the approach might be mainstreamed, including through the development of supportive infrastructures, changing service contracts, and merging budgets.
Source: David Boyle, Turbo Charging Volunteering: Co-production and public service reform, CentreForum
Links: Report | CentreForum press release
Date: 2014-May
An article examined strategic partnerships in Scotland. It discussed the historical contingency of 'joined-up government', and the practices and meanings of 'strategic' and 'partnerships'. It said that strategic partnership working created barriers to community empowerment and engagement.
Source: Peter Matthews, 'Being strategic in partnership interpreting local knowledge of modern local government', Local Government Studies, Volume 40 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the impacts of user involvement in mental health, drawing on a study of three National Health Service foundation trusts in the United Kingdom. It said that change in the NHS and in social care had altered what service users and their organizations could achieve, but service user involvement had become embedded into the new systems. It said that 'traditional' styles of confrontation and campaigning had given way to more corporate and professional modes, but this posed many challenges for organizations. 'Ordinary' service users were found to have some involvement in service planning and delivery and were supported by staff. In addition, it said that new opportunities and forums had arisen for user involvement, including the possibilities for involvement in NHS foundation trusts, but issues of appropriate styles of behaviour and negotiation arose. The article noted the potential for personalization to offer service users more control of their own care, but the study found little evidence that this was happening and there was uncertainty and confusion surrounding its development. The authors recommended further research on the applicability of personalization to the field of mental health.
Source: Diana Rose, Marian Barnes, Mike Crawford, Edward Omeni, Dee MacDonald, and Aaron Wilson, 'How do managers and leaders in the National Health Service and social care respond to service user involvement in mental health services in both its traditional and emergent forms? The ENSUE study', Health Services and Delivery Research, Volume 2 Issue 10
Date: 2014-May
A report examined the role of local communities in tackling crime and disorder, how this was viewed by government and members of local communities, and the extent to which government aspirations for 'community justice' resonated with the general public. The report made recommendations.
Source: Jessica Jacobson, Oonagh Skrine, Amy Kirby, and Gillian Hunter, Crime and 'Community': Exploring the scope for community involvement in criminal justice, Institute for Criminal Policy Research (Birkbeck, University of London)
Links: Report | ICPR press release
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the operationalization of co-production through the application of service blueprinting. It presented an example from within higher education, where staff were brought together with students to produce a blueprint for the design of student enrolment.
Source: Zoe Radnor, Stephen Osborne, Tony Kinder, and Jean Mutton, 'Operationalizing co-production in public services delivery: the contribution of service blueprinting', Public Management Review, Volume 16 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the contradictions of citizen participation in regeneration, focusing on south Wales. It said the creation of the Welsh Assembly in 1999 had created a window of opportunity for a radical, bottom-up programme of 'non-prescriptive' regeneration (Communities First), but the programme had been captured by a New Labour policy agenda that shifted the priorities from citizen representation to 'community activation'.
Source: Bella Dicks, 'Participatory community regeneration: a discussion of risks, accountability and crisis in devolved Wales', Urban Studies, Volume 51 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the objectives and outcomes from the St Paul's regeneration scheme in Cheltenham, a town in central England. The article said that the case study indicated it was possible to improve the social and environmental aspects of a high crime area through the involvement of residents in the redesign process, and with the employment of innovative design.
Source: Amanda Taylor, 'A case study of the regeneration of the St Paul's estate, Cheltenham: working in partnership and engaging with the community to deliver improvements in a deprived area', Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, Volume 7 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
A new book examined austerity policy and questioned the lack of public protest and the role of left politics. It suggested that austerity was part of a wider elite plan to change society for the benefit of profit, consumerism and speculative finance. The book also considered the way forward, including the possibilities for a 'new collective resistance'.
Source: Richard Seymour, Against Austerity: How we can fix the crisis they made, Pluto Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the role of local civic associations in advancing planning and conservation agendas. Local groups had variable professional and social resources, leading to differences in their ability to engage in local governance.
Source: Lucy Hewitt and John Pendlebury, 'Local associations and participation in place: change and continuity in the relationship between state and civil society in twentieth-century Britain', Planning Perspectives, Volume 29 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined whose purpose the policy goal of community empowerment served. It examined the perspectives of three 'actors' in a neighbourhood regeneration setting: the housing association; a campaign group that became a registered tenants organization; and residents living in the area. The article said that while the 'wider community' was not empowered by the processes, community empowerment was used by other parties to legitimate their aims. It noted implications for policy oversight and regulation.
Source: Louise Lawson and Ade Kearns, 'Rethinking the purpose of community empowerment in neighbourhood regeneration: the need for policy clarity', Local Economy, Volume 29 Number 1-2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
A report examined how social work service practitioners in Scotland might better understand the perspectives of people who might be at risk of harm, and considered ways to improve service user participation in investigations, decision-making and meetings. It said that service users and carers had mixed experiences, some good, but some adults felt more could have been done to help them understand what adult support and protection was about and to help them participate more. The project had examined and adapted existing tools, and developed new ones, for ongoing piloting.
Source: Bobby Brown, Jenny Bruce, Maureen Conway, Beth Cross, Neil Dunn, Fiona Gaffney, Michelle Howorth, Susan Hynd, Claire Lightowler, Kaye MacGregor, Kathryn Mackay, Senga McCulloch, Lee McLauchlan, Rhona Maxwell, Brian Rapley, Rose Sinclair, and Helen Winter, A Project to Support More Effective Involvement of Service Users in Adult Support and Protection Activity, Scottish Government
Date: 2014-Feb
A report by a committee of MSPs said that regeneration should not be seen as 'strategy' or 'policy': but as a vision to reduce deprivation, inequality and long-term decline, delivered through a focused, strategic, cross-policy approach. Recommendations included: better partnerships and joined up working; a focus on prevention and reducing long-term inequalities; community led regeneration and community participation; and longer term funding to provide greater stability to projects.
Source: Delivery of Regeneration in Scotland, 1st Report 2014, SP Paper 476, Scottish Parliament Local Government and Regeneration Committee Committee
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined the use of health impact assessment as a means of facilitating community engagement in spatial planning.
Source: Chloe Chadderton, Eva Elliott, Nick Hacking, Michael Shepherd, and Gareth Williams, 'Health impact assessment in the UK planning system: the possibilities and limits of community engagement', Health Promotion International, Volume 28 Issue 4
Date: 2014-Feb
The Welsh Government began consultation on proposals to change the substance misuse service user involvement framework for Wales. The framework would offer guidance on engaging with service users in the design, commissioning, operation and evaluation of substance misuse services. The consultation would close on 7 April 2014.
Source: Substance Misuse Service User Involvement Framework, Welsh Government
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2014-Jan