Post your views here

Good idea - but needs to ensure there is co-ordination and particpants are informed/given feedback from the sessions..a good way of communicating these events and generating discussion is to use networking sites such as Facebook to form 'groups' whereby young and harder to reach can access info. discuss various ideas and also submit ideas, that can be gathered and considered.

Whilst working on Copnor Bridge Replacement project, which won a number of awards for excellent community enegagement/community involvement - we gave residents, local kids the chance to 'design' the bridge for themselves - by implementing a mural on the parapets, we took on local artists who facilitated the workshops for the mural, we held bridge building competitions at local schools, we visited local schools along with contractor to speak to kids about the project, H&S on site and Traffic Management. We also got local university film graduates to produce a film of the project and a colourful book was also produced by the artists of the mural. This gave residents and the people of portsmouth 'ownership' over the work, and also prevented graffiti being sprayed on the bridge, which was a problem before. By using local resources and companies, we also generated local business for Portsmouth, rather than giving it to external companies. To get young people excited and involved, it is worth 'tapping' into their preffered methods of communication and showing them how their involvement can make a difference! Hope this helps! Interesting stuff

Hi there - the 'Say and Play' work you are doing sounds great and is very similar to the way we are developing our consultation practice in Norfolk. we recently held a planning meeting including young people to plan an event which was really creative and came away with something far more fun and accessible than we had originally considered. It's so important to involve local public stakeholders in planning involvement activity.

Ideas include having a kind of activity trail where you got stamps for every activity that you participate it - providing an incentive to participation in the involvement activities rather than making it a requirement or the focus of the event. Incentives that have been discussed include various activities that will be in the form of taster sessions at the venue - which will include watersports and arts and craft activities. We are breaking down the children and young people's plan for the area of Norfolk that are planning the event into the Every Child Matters outcomes and intend to have a senior manager/decision maker at each of the 5 stands as well as a display about what is already happening, what is planned and seeking comments and suggestions for future priorities.  

It's interesting that in the youtube clip  schools are described as places that people are familiar with - in Norfolk the experience of many colleagues working with our most vulnerable and disadvantaged families who experience barriers to accessing services indicate that schools can be problematic spaces to invite people to. Previous negative experiences of school, both as children and as parents appear to create barriers which aren't present when more neutral venues, like community centres are used.

I support Mai's point about feedback to the community - often overlooked or under planned/ under resourced in involvement activity - it demonstrates what has changed (which can sometimes clarify that listening and responding is the most important part of the process - not just asking) it can support community empowerment and makes involvement activity sustainable! Good communications planning is needed for every element of involvement.

Best wishes

Kirsten