The local demonstrations were selected from organisations across Scotland who expressed an interest in participating, to reflect a mix of urban and rural areas, whole partnership approaches and smaller scale, more local work. In addition, an assessment was made against their current circumstances and the foundation elements set out in the Better Community Engagement: Framework for Learning
The aims of each projects' participation in this programme is set out below:
Angus Council, Community Learning and Development Service
- Reinforce the specific purpose of community engagement involving communities in the planning and delivery of service
- Increase confidence and competence in the conduct of community engagement activities
- Build capacity in communities
- Strengthen voluntary sector participation in community engagement processes and structures
Argyll and Bute
- Develop training materials for effective and appropriate methods of consultation for Community Planning Partners
- Develop and provide training to help communities participate at a number of levels
- Ensure elected members are kept abreast of changes and developments
- Identify and develop training on innovative and effective ways of providing feedback to communities and evidence that community voices have been heard and action taken
Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles)
- Build the confidence of all members of the community
- Raise awareness of the various Partnership Structures and engagemement routes
- Raise awareness of Community Planning and the Single Outcome Agreement
- Raise awareness of effective community engagement
East Renfrewshire Council
- Wider awareness of the rationale for, and benefits of community engagement, the policy framework
- The impact community engagement has upon project timescales and project delivery
- The challenges posed and skills required when undertaking successful community engagement
- The establishment of agreed standards for community engagement projects across the Council
Edinburgh Partnership
- Improve the co-ordination of engagement activities across the city
- Identify a suitable e-engagement solution that will meet the consultation needs of community planning partners and develop a modern, purpose-designed service
- Develop a physical/virtual network or "community of practice"
Falkirk Council
- Develop a specific, tailored package of training for a range of audiences across the Council including:
elected members - to develop their role in community engagement
managers - to fully understand the distinctions between consultation and more participative approaches to engagement and to act as leaders of community engagement activities
frontline staff - to better enable them to fulfill their community engagement roles
- Enhance the ability to use new technologies for community engagement
- Develop training materials for staff that can enable all services to engage with an ageing population.
- Address the challenges of European labour mobility to create a more linguistically and ethnically diverse society
Faith in the Community (Scotland)
- Ensure that the community skills training and resources become more fully accessible across the wider faith sector
- Overcome cultural, religious and language barriers which can undermine the commitment to equalities
- Work closely with public sector agencies to help increase religious literacy
- Increase training on, and awareness of, key community engagement tools and methodologies
Fife Council, Performance and Organisational Support
- Examine the various ways that the role of 'champion for community engagement' has developed across the area, and share that experience with all. (This work follows on from the network of champions that was established to implement the National Standards for Community Engagement.)
- Enable champions to reflect and act on personal learning
Moray Council
- Develop Neighbourhood Charters and Neighbourhood Agreements between communities and Community Planning Partnership agencies
- Target and involve local residents who may have disabilities that can act as a barrier for getting involved in their communities
- Target and involve settled residents who may not have English as their first language
West Lothian Council, Communities Team
- Develop the capacity of the local community to meaningfully influence and engage in locality planning
- Train both the community and workers, in a more structured way, exploring new approaches to community engagement and capacity building
- Create a cohesive strategy, endorsed by all partners, including the community
- Improve and develop robust and clear monitoring and evaluation systems, to capture the effectiveness of the engagement process