Transforming Participation

What was the Project?

The Transforming Participation project aimed to build on and share good practice.

The participation of communities lies at the heart of community planning, and engagement should be shaped around the needs of those who are not often heard. Closely linked to Shetland’s Community Learning and Development Plan, this project was about:

  • Highlighting and learning from where community engagement and participation has or is working well
  • Sharing good practice
  • Creating an online hub to store information and guidance as a resource and reference point
  • Capturing the knowledge and talents within partner organisations and the community to further develop effective ways of working

 

The project was part of the Participation priority, working towards the following outcomes:

 “The Shetland Partnership will be a successful partnership – between public agencies and with communities – helping to deliver improved outcomes for people across the Isles.”

“Communities will feel empowered and the majority of people in Shetland will feel more able to influence the decisions that affect them and have a strong understanding of how and why decisions are taken.”

“Staff from across the Shetland Partnership will be actively seeking to involve communities in decision making and service delivery, including identifying and involving those who do not often have their voices heard.”

The project aims were:

  • Levels of community participation activity increase
  • Number and reach of people taking part in participation increases
  • Number of people who feel they can influence decisions affecting the local area increases
  • Levels of satisfaction with participation processes improve

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