Informing and influencing policy Findings and implications from Pathways through Participation

1. Informing and influencing policy Findings and implications from Pathways through Participation 21st October 2011 #pthwys

2. Research questions How and why does participation begin, continue and stop? 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?

3. 101 in-depth interviews Life stories Qualitative research Individual at the heart Approach Participation as ‘situated practice’ 3 field work areas: Leeds Enfield Suffolk Stakeholder engagement

4. 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

5. Available from: www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources

6. Common features: Voluntary About action Collective or connected Purposeful Perceptions of participation are contradictory What is participation? Participation is widespread Participation impacts on people and places Conflict and tension are an integral part of participation

7. Why participation starts • Helping others • Developing relationships • Exercising values & beliefs • Having influence • For personal benefit • Being part of something • Groups and organisations • Local environment and place • Practical resources • Learnt resources • Felt resources • An emotional reaction • A personal life event • An external influence

8. Why participation continues or stops Impact Life event Enjoyment Friendships Relationships Time Health Energy

9. The factors that shape participation

10. Trends and patterns of participation over time Priorities Critical moments Life stage

11. Conclusions Participation is personal Participation can be encouraged, supported & made more attractive Significant barriers to participation are entrenched

12. Available from: www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources

13. Current policy themes & drivers • Supporting voluntary action and encouraging philanthropy and giving • Devolving power to communities and local government • Greater role in public services for voluntary and community organisations and other civil society organisations • Significant policy developments to realise the above aims include: • Giving White Paper • Localism Bill

14. Giving time and money AIM: Increase numbers and rates of giving time and money National Citizen’s Service Community Organisers Reciprocal models of giving Harnessing new technologies New investments

15. Participation equations

16. Implications for giving policy Personal invitation Imposition of external agenda Structured entry points Opportunities to continue Make the case for giving stronger Improve information on diversity of (formal and informal) giving opportunities Acknowledge entrenched barriers

17. Lift the burden of bureaucracy Decentralising power Right to challenge & buy Empower communities to do things their way Neighbourhood planning Increase local control of public finance Diversity the supply of public services Open up government to public scrutiny Strengthen accountability to local people

18. Key findings: decentralising power Importance of local services Local sites essential People take on different roles Local issue as trigger

19. Implications: decentralising power Resources needed to take on roles & responsibilities Lack of social capital to challenge service closure Range of roles & opportunities necessary Take care of those who are already active Involvement in ‘the system’ is often a means to an end

20. Available from: www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources

21. Group discussion What has particularly struck you? What are the implications? What else do we need to know?