100 likes | 407 Views
Community Engagement – Why Bother? Maria Walker Depute Director (Education and Children’s Services) Perth and Kinross Council. OVERVIEW. Community Engagement – a definition Why it matters to service providers Some examples of practice Where to go for help. Community Engagement is:.
E N D
Community Engagement – Why Bother? Maria Walker Depute Director (Education and Children’s Services) Perth and Kinross Council
OVERVIEW • Community Engagement – a definition • Why it matters to service providers • Some examples of practice • Where to go for help
Community Engagement is: Developing and sustaining a working relationship between one or more community groups, to help them both understand and act on the needs or issues that the community experiences
Standards for Community Engagement Want to improve your community? The 10 National Standards are used for community engagement • The Involvement Standard • The Support Standard • The Planning Standard • The Methods Standard • The Working Together Standard • The Sharing Information Standard • The Working With Others Standard • The Improvement Standard • The Feedback Standard • The Monitoring and Evaluation • Standard
How do we use the standards in practice? Giving Feedback Listening Sharing information Active Involvement Engagement Dialogue Consulting Leading to Improved Service Delivery
Why Bother? • Efficiency • Compliance • Reputational Enhancement • Improved Understanding of Communities
Perth and Kinross Approaches to Community Engagement Placecheck Environmental developments involving communities and Council staff from The Environment Service and Cultural & Communities Services. Year long process involving • Community Council • school pupils and staff • community organisations • youth groups • elected members Placechecks to date from 2008 • Errol • Dunning • Milnathort • Bridge of Earn
Perth and Kinross Approaches to Community Engagement Added value from process • improved community ownership • sense of belonging • active citizenship • enhanced environment based on community needs • improved relationship with council staff • less complaints Challenges • getting enough representation from the community • getting buy in from staff
Perth and Kinross Approaches to Community Engagement World Café Model in Kinross • to address local issues around local assets, heritage and environment Method • round table, limited time discussions on key topics • community had the opportunity to engage with officers on topics relevant to them Added value • better understanding of local issues • improved relationships between community and local authority • consensus on way forward Successes • appointment of full time senior community capacity worker by The Environment Services Locality Planning
Resources • The Standards for Community Engagement • Local Community Learning and Development Service • www.pkc.gov.uk