Reaching out to local communities
Facilitating Community Empowerment
Community Consultation
If you are starting a new project or looking to apply for funding then you will usually need to do some form of consultation.
Projects might include refurbishing or building a community facility, upgrading or installing a new play area, improving a sports facility, creating a nature reserve, setting up a new community group, running a fete or practically anything else you can think of.
Very often, funders will want to see an 'evidence of need' for your project. They will want to be assured that your project will be successful before giving you the money to do it. It is therefore important that the consultation is done properly to ensure your project's success and to secure the funding you need.
Consultation has the added advantage of ensuring is that the local community feel involved as the project develops, with the result that they are more likely to give their longer-term support.
Who to involve in community consultation will depend on the type of project you are undertaking. For some projects, you may just want to talk to a specific group in your community (such as children, young people or older people). For other projects, you will want to involve the whole community.
There are lots of ways to consult with your local community. Your consultation could take the form of a questionnaire, getting a group of people together to talk about the project (focus group), or more creative methods such as interactive maps, using photography, art or storytelling or combinations of all of these methods. The best consultation exercises are tailored for the section of the community being consulted as, for example, things that may work for adults will not engage children.
Cambridgeshire ACRE has significant experience in undertaking community consultation exercises. We can:
- Advise on the best methods to use for consultation
- Design the consultation materials
- Signpost you to specialist organisations
- Deliver the consultation for you
- Provide a full analysis and report ready for you to use
To discuss how we could help you with community consultation or to see examples of consultation work done previously by Cambridgeshire ACRE, please contact Alison Brown on 01353 865029.