1 Background
1.1 Community engagement is now an essential feature of public sector planning and decision making. In recent years engaging communities has moved beyond area based regeneration to almost every aspect of public service provision.
1.2 The challenges of achieving effective engagement of communities in regeneration processes have been highlighted by a succession of research studies 1. Lessons from the 'Working Together Learning Together' programme of training for Social Inclusion Partnerships between 2000 and 2002 found the following frustrations related to community engagement:
- Inadequate timescales for community consultation
- Narrowness of the scope offered for influence on policy and practice
- Lack of openness in providing access to relevant information
- Over formalised participation processes and unnecessary use of complex language and jargon
- Lack of adequate investment in capacity building for agency staff and elected members to develop the skills to practice in a community responsive manner
- Lack of consistent investment in capacity building and mentoring support for community representatives and community led initiatives
- Triumphs of presentation about participation over genuinely effective practice
- Political and administrative paternalism
- Lack of clear constitutional arrangements in partnerships that clarify and regulate the powers, roles and remits of partners.
1.3 The challenges experienced by the Scottish Social Inclusion Partnerships in achieving satisfactory community engagement led to the Scottish Community Development Centre being commissioned to develop a set of National Standards for Community Engagement. These were published in draft form in 2004. A set of pilot projects informed the final draft of the Standards which were published in May 2005. A range of support materials followed including written case studies, a user's guide, toolkit and reference manual.
1.4 The National Standards for Community Engagement have been endorsed by a wide range of public and voluntary sector organisations including COSLA, NHS Health Scotland, Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and others.
1.5 The launch of the National Standards was followed by a programme of support for Community Planning Partnerships, Community Learning and Development Partnerships and community groups to implement and use the National Standards.