Building participation

A photo from our deliberative session with community organisations to shape future priorities for 2025–28

Real change happens when people feel included, heard, and empowered. Participation isn’t just a buzzword for us — it’s the foundation of resilient, connected, and thriving communities.

So, how are we doing it? By embedding participation into everything we do — whether it’s reimagining public spaces, tackling big issues like the cost of living, or working together to design better services. Here’s how we’re building a model of participation that works with our communities.

1. Start with a framework that connects everyone

We kicked things off by putting participative as one of our core principles and making Councils for the Community one of our four main priorities. Whether it’s improving a park, rethinking services, or addressing bigger challenges, that ensures participation isn’t sidelined — it’s central.

What you can do:

1. Create your own framework — something that aligns teams and gives participation a home within your planning process.
2. Make roles clear — who’s leading, who’s supporting, and how residents and partners can be involved.

Take inspiration: Barking and Dagenham’s Participatory City is a brilliant example of how residents can co-create the change they want to see, supported by tools and resources that make participation accessible.

2. Empower residents to lead the change

We don’t just ask residents for their opinions — we give them real tools to drive decisions. Our Councils for Community programme is a great example. Through things like participatory budgeting, people decide where funding goes and collaborate on community-led projects to address what really matters — whether that’s cost-of-living challenges or sprucing up local spaces.

What you can do:

1. Hand over the reins — let residents decide how funding is used through participatory budgeting.
2. Back community-led ideas — work alongside residents to co-create solutions, not just consult on them.

Look to Newham: Their People Powered Places programmes invites locals to actively shape how budgets are used. It’s proof that participation builds trust and better outcomes.

3. Create spaces for collaboration — face to face and virtual

Participation needs places where people can connect and collaborate. At Adur & Worthing, we’ve created the Participation Lab — a space where residents, staff, and partners can test ideas, co-create solutions, and share their voices.

What you can do:

1. Build spaces to connect — think beyond boardrooms. Whether it’s a community hub, a virtual platform, or pop-up events, create spaces where collaboration feels natural.
2. Keep the conversation going — participation isn’t a one-off event; it’s ongoing, so build in ways for dialogue to continue.

Inspiration from Leeds: Their Community Hubs blend physical meeting spaces with digital platforms to make collaboration easy and inclusive.

4. Invest in community infrastructure

Strong participation relies on strong support for local voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) groups. We’re working with these organisations to provide the funding, training, and tools they need to thrive — because when they succeed, our communities do, too.

What you can do:

1. Back your local community sector — invest in their growth through funding and capacity-building support.
2. Think long-term — help organisations build sustainable models so they can keep delivering impact.

Bristol’s Social Action Plan shows what’s possible when you invest in VCSE groups. By strengthening skills and resources, Bristol has created an ecosystem where community-led solutions flourish.

5. Equip your people to support participation

Participation doesn’t happen on its own — our staff are at the heart of it. That’s why we’re investing in training that helps them develop the skills to engage residents meaningfully, whether through facilitation, community organising, or trauma-informed approaches.

What you can do:

1. Upskill your team — train your staff to be facilitators of participation, not just “deliverers” of services.
2. Empower staff leadership — give them opportunities to lead participation projects and experiment with new approaches.

Camden Council does this brilliantly with their Workforce Development Strategy, which equips staff to work hand-in-hand with residents.

Let’s build participative communities

We’re not just talking about participation — we’re making it happen. By creating real opportunities for residents to shape decisions, designing spaces where ideas can thrive, and investing in the people and infrastructure that make it possible, we’re building stronger, more inclusive communities.

Want to take action? Here’s where to start:

• Build frameworks that make collaboration practical.
• Empower residents to take the lead through tools like participatory budgeting.
• Invest in your staff and local community groups — they’re your biggest allies in making participation meaningful.

Let’s learn from each other, share what works, and keep building communities where everyone has a voice. Drop your thoughts and ideas in the comments.