We Live Here
-
Upload
the-democratic-society -
Category
News & Politics
-
view
1.774 -
download
0
description
Transcript of We Live Here
Saturday, 21 April 12
The Government has high expectations for localism
Saturday, 21 April 12
With neighbourhood planning and budgeting ...
Saturday, 21 April 12
... they have given localities complex, technical issues to manage.
Saturday, 21 April 12
And the decision-making infrastructure is not always ready
Saturday, 21 April 12
If we can get participation right , it will have huge benefits for systemic reform
Saturday, 21 April 12
Imagine...
... you’re bothered by young people making noise in your street, and you don’t complain. Instead, you talk to other residents, and start up a sports club for them, with your councillor co-ordinating local public services to help out.
Saturday, 21 April 12
Imagine...
... you work for a health action project, and rather than spending money on leaflets and advertising you have free access to every civic network in your area, and a trusted place to reach thousands of active citizens.
Saturday, 21 April 12
Imagine...
... you work for the council and have to take a tough decision, and your instant reaction is to throw open all the evidence and the context to councillors and people in the community and work with them to find a solution.
Saturday, 21 April 12
That’s the vision.
Saturday, 21 April 12
People aren't participating enough in
their communitiesText
We’re not there yet.
Saturday, 21 April 12
Participation falls short in community action...
37%
63%Charities unable to fulfil their
goals due to lack of volunteers
Source: National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises, 2010
Saturday, 21 April 12
... and in the political system
0
20
40
60
80
1973 1976 1980 1982 1986 1988 1992 1995 1998 2000 2004 2008
English metsEnglish districtsFrench cantons
Local election turnout
Source: French elections: France-politique.fr; UK elections: LGC Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Only years where all three election types took place included. UK local elections held on same day as general elections excluded.
Saturday, 21 April 12
And those who do participate ...
Do nothing64.4%
Do all three1.2%
Civic & donation3.7%
Civic & volunteer3.6%
Volunteer2.1%Donate
4.5%
Civic assn20.5% Participation in civic action
2007-10
Source: Third Sector Research Centre, Working Paper 73
Saturday, 21 April 12
... aren’t representative
Middle aged (40-64)
No qualifications
Degree
Actively religious
Routine occupations
Manager/professional
0 15 30 45 60
Most engaged Least engaged
Source: Third Sector Research Centre, Working Paper 73Saturday, 21 April 12
People want to give more time ...
47%
18%
18%
18%
Do volunteer, can’t do moreDon’t volunteer, want toDo volunteer, want to do moreDon’t volunteer, not interested
Source: Third Sector Research Centre and Giving White Paper, HMG 2010Saturday, 21 April 12
... and would make a big difference if they did ...
Political party members
“Willing localists”
0m 1m 2m 3m 4m 5m 6m 7m
Source: “Willing Localists” - Hansard Audit of Democratic Engagement 2010; UK Voting Age Population: IDEA 2010; Political party members - House of Commons Membership of UK political parties Standard Note SN/SG/5125 2009.
‘“Willing localists” are citizens not actively involved in a wide range of community and socio-political activities but who seem the most willing to do so and are those most likely, realistically, to become so in the future.’ - Hansard Audit
Saturday, 21 April 12
But they don’t.
Why not?
Saturday, 21 April 12
Saturday, 21 April 12
They don’t trust politics
Saturday, 21 April 12
They want to make a difference on their own terms
Saturday, 21 April 12
Saturday, 21 April 12
Saturday, 21 April 12
And politics hasn’t respondedto the way the world is changing
Saturday, 21 April 12
•More connected and self-reliant communities
• Better opportunities for civic action, better understood
• Everyday democratic participation
What do we need?
Saturday, 21 April 12
With We Live Here, we ....
Saturday, 21 April 12
Identified formal and informal civic activist networks in threecommunities (this is Hangleton)
Saturday, 21 April 12
Connected them online (this is Brunswick)
Saturday, 21 April 12
Talked to them about what they want next
Saturday, 21 April 12
started to pass control of the network to the
participants...and thought about how we can ensure
control stays with local people ...
Saturday, 21 April 12
...not the Council
Saturday, 21 April 12
• Don't assume small areas are small tasks
• Inclusive engagement takes longer and starts from farther back
• Social Media Surgeries are a huge hit
• Behaviour change in the Council is essential - and sooner than we thought
• People don't think about "democracy", they think about their needs
We have learned
Saturday, 21 April 12
•Work with a group in each area to develop ideas
• Continue to build connections and bring people online
• Create maps and event calendars
•Make democratic connections and conversations
And now we're going to
Saturday, 21 April 12
Meeting citizens’ needs
“A lot of positive has come out of this project. It’s all about what citizens need. There is an appetite in our community to move it on and take a broader look at ways groups communicate between themselves, and how we can make the communication with the council two-way conversation rather than one-way.”
- project participant
Saturday, 21 April 12
Meeting service needs
“We want to work collaboratively across agencies and bring the council closer to the community. We see We Live Here building a system that uses traditional and new media to form the basis for new neighbourhood decision making. Our vision is of an involving public service of loose connections and networked organisations - We Live Here is an essential element of that.”
John Barradell, council chief executiveApril 2012
Saturday, 21 April 12
Cost-effectively
Single service consultation
Setup & run a WLH location*
Citizens Panel
Budget consultation
5% of average council comms budget
Large-scale consultation
Consultation on infrastructure project
0 75 150 225 300
Source: Consultation budgets published by Derbyshire and Ellesmere Port & Neston councils; TPA research; CLG. * setup and first year of WLH at “Connecting” level.
Saturday, 21 April 12
Building towards the vision even if the route is unclear
Saturday, 21 April 12
• Our communities
• Our partners
• Council
• NHS
• Police
We've got support for the next stage
Saturday, 21 April 12
• Deeper conversation in existing pilots
• New pilots
• Citywide conversation
But we want to take it further
Saturday, 21 April 12
•Methodology and learning write-up
• Reusable tools
• Practitioner and councillor learning
• Network growth and development
And develop the approach
Saturday, 21 April 12
“Until we rebuild, both from the bottom up and from the top down, our institutes of governance and democracy, we will not be able to stand up to the fundamental challenges that we are facing”
Manuel Castells
Because this is the mission
Saturday, 21 April 12
If you want to follow our journey
Speak to Susie Latta at Demsoc([email protected]), follow @demsocor visit the blog: http://weliveherebh.org.uk
Saturday, 21 April 12