Where next for localism and co-production?

15 March 2012

St Bride’s Foundation, London

#nextlocalism

Hands up and hands on Pathways through participation

Hands up and hands on

Liz Coll, Consumer Focus 15 March 2012

4

Aim of research

“to determine the preparedness and capacity of citizens across England to engage with, and respond to, the anticipated challenges relating to the provision of community and public services”

Hands up and hands on

5

Research objectives

• What does localism mean to people in practice?• How aware are citizens of opportunities for

participation?• What are the triggers and barriers to participation?• Do citizens have the capacity and willingness to

participate in challenging decisions about local public services?

Hands up and hands on

6

Research methods

• Quantitative: telephone survey of 1,001 adults, weighted for representation

• Qualitative: deliberative citizen forums at 4 locations

– Keynsham (Bristol)– Timperley and Wythenshawe (Greater Manchester)– Hereford– Tower Hamlets (London)

• Facilitated, in depth discussions and mock exercises in participatory budgeting.

Hands up and hands on

Tim Hughes, Involve

How and why does participation begin and continue?

Research questions

Can trends and patterns of participation be identified over time?

What connections, if any, are there between different forms and episodes of participation and what triggers movement between them?

Approach

3 field work areas:

LeedsEnfieldSuffolk

Individual at the heart

Qualitative research

101 in-depth interviews

Participation as ‘situated practice’

Stakeholder engagement

Life stories

What is participation?Social participation: the collective activities that individuals are involved in

Public participation: the engagement of individuals with the various structures and institutions of democracy

Individual participation: people’s individual actions and choices that reflect the kind of society they want to live in

11

A picture of participation

• 82% agree we should have more say in local matters

• But only 28% would like to actually have an input (38% for parents of under 18 year olds)

• Quantitative survey showed 31% had actually participated, from neighbourhood watch to running sports clubs

Hands Up and Hands On

Why participation starts

An emotional reactionA personal life event

•An external influence

Practical resourcesLearnt resources

•Felt resources

Groups and organisationsLocal environment and place

Helping othersDeveloping relationships

•Exercising values & beliefs•Having influence•For personal benefit•Being part of something

13

Why people don’t participate

• Lack of information: “there’s nothing advertised about where and how you can get involved. I think people like to keep it to themselves”

• Lack of time: “it starts as ‘can you help out?’ and it ends up as ‘we’re relying on you’. That’s too much”

• Lack of faith in local authorities: “quite often they ask our opinion then just ignore it” “you see them…at election time. The next time you see them is the next election”

Hands up and hands on

14

Why people don’t participate

• Fear of the usual suspects “you always get the same people going to the meetings, it can be quite cliquey and it puts people off”

• Lack of return on investment “I feel it’s easy to say but there’s a bit of ‘once bitten, twice shy’ about all this local stuff”

Hands up and hands on

15

Perceptions and experiences

Other participantsPolitics

Public organisations

16

Participation needs to be...

• Personal• Social• Meaningful

16

Recommendations

Understand what policy interventions can and cannot achieve

Develop realistic expectations of participation

Improve participation opportunities

18

Ways forward...

• Influence, Involvement, In Control: find the right level. • Focus effort on the right people: reach out to the ‘willing but

waiting’• Be open and realistic: don’t shy away from difficult

conversations, be prepared for complexity of localism.

Hands up and hands on

19

Critical issues

• Power and inequality• Conflict• The usual suspects• Efficacy and trust• Defining a community