Community Consultation and Engagement: Why and How to do it Well – Postponed

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 emergency, all LCVS training and events scheduled to take place before the end of April have now been postponed. We are currently exploring alternative training delivery methods. We will continue to monitor the situation and issue regular updates.

Many funders these days ask for ‘evidence of need through consultation’ and want to know that you truly engage users when designing your services. In fact, lack of evidence pertaining to these areas is one of the main reasons funders give for rejecting applications.

The most effective projects begin with gathering evidence of need, particularly from those they are seeking to help. The most successful projects continually involve service users in a cycle of design, planning, implementation and review, which feeds into every stage of delivery. By implementing this ongoing cycle:

• you foster a sense of ownership and trust amongst stakeholders
• you’re able to adapt your services to meet the changing needs of the community you serve
• you become more attractive to potential funders
• everybody wins

This session offers a practical approach to carrying out community consultation/involving service users. You’ll also receive the tools you need to:

• ensure your services meet local needs
• ensure accountability to service users
• encourage more participation, which leads to higher demand
• continually review and update projects to improve service delivery
• make more effective use of your time and resources
• prove to funders that your projects are worth supporting

Get key tools you could begin implementing right away, to foster better relationships with your service users, your community and funders.