What characterises good participation?
Involve believes that good participation practice adheres to the following principles:
Makes a difference
The purpose of participation is to achieve change in relation to the purpose identified; it may also make a difference to all those involved in terms of learning, confidence and sense of active citizenship. This requires active commitment to change by all parties.
Voluntary
People may be encouraged to be involved, and even paid for involvement, but effective participation requires them to choose to be involved. Participation cannot be compulsory.
Transparency, honesty and clarity
about the purpose, the limits of what can and cannot be changed, who can be involved and how, and what happens as a result.
Adequate resources
to manage the process well and to deliver on the results.
Appropriate participants
representative and/or inclusive, depending on the purpose of the exercise, with traditionally excluded groups given special support and encouragement when their involvement is appropriate.
Accessibility
No participant should be excluded because of lack of physical access to meeting places, timing, appropriate support (e.g. child care), etc.
Accountability
Participatory processes need to be accountable to all those involved (including the organisation that may be running / commissioning the exercise, and to the wider community). This requires good record-keeping and reporting of both processes and outcomes.
Power
Participatory processes should have sufficient power to achieve the agreed objectives. This may require a change in the existing power sharing arrangements.
Learning and development
Participatory processes should seek to support a climate of mutual learning and development among all those involved.
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