This Handbook offers a structured and logical way to work through the task of designing and planning any engagement process. It is aimed at citizens, community or public engagement practitioners, elected or government representatives, and other sponsoring organisations or stakeholders.
Blog: In search of effective collaborative challenge for a more equitable society
James Henderson, Research Associate with What Works Scotland, considers the final reflective learning report from the Aberdeenshire case site – At the frontier of collaborative and participatory governance – which offers eight discussions that could be used to inform ongoing dialogue with a public service partnership.
Blog: Tackling inequalities by supporting ‘enterprising’ communities
Guest blogger Pauline Hinchion, Director of Scottish Communities Finance, as part of What Works Scotland community sector inquiry work, returns to the Christie Commission’s report to consider the fundamental challenge of empowering low income communities and the potential for asset-based approaches to work alongside public services.
Blog: Community-led activity: time to invest in expansion
Guest blogger Ian Cooke, Director of the Development Trust Association Scotland analyses the current context for community place-making and calls for a commitment to investing in the significant contribution anchors can make to building community infrastructure.
Key messages about public service reform in Scotland
An introduction to What Works Scotland’s lessons for public service reform in Scotland, published at the conclusion of the four-year programme, and the report to download.
At the frontier of collaborative and participatory governance: Eight key discussions to support putting Christie into practice – reflective learning with practitioners from Aberdeenshire CPP
This research report outlines and shares some of the learning about putting Christie into action from collaborative action research and reflection with Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership. It argues that understanding the developing frontier of collaborative and participatory governance will help to identify potential opportunities to make further progress with ‘wicked’ issues like inequality.
Participation and representation: Strengthening the third sector voice in local governance
Case study which highlights the work of STRiVE, a third sector interface in East Lothian, and its initiative to strengthen the participation of third sector organisations in local governance.
Community Planning after the Community Empowerment Act: The Second Survey of Community Planning Officials in Scotland
Report and executive summary of the findings from the second survey of community planning officials in Scotland, conducted in 2018. It compares the results to those from the 2016 survey and offers an overview of key dynamics, challenges and accomplishments over those two years, with a particular focus on the Community Empowerment Act.
Co-production
Insights into co-production of public services, including analysis of successful examples and reflections on issues and opportunities in co-production.
Community engagement
Resources and research to support community engagement including the national standards, issues of inequality, and developing skills for facilitating meaningful and useful engagement.