Public dialogue on significant water management issues

A Sciencewise project

Cath BeaverSenior Community & Stakeholder Relations AdviserEnvironment Agency

5 June 2014

Why did this project come about?

To ensure public views are fed into final plans and priorities for managing the water environment

What we did...

Seven workshops across England

One reconvened national workshop

Online survey (quantitative research)

How we ran the workshops

Brief intro presentation and video

Facilitated small group discussions

Stimulus material to read

Sticky dots to weight the challenges

Evaluation forms

Incentive given out

Weighting of challenges in different locations

Project recommendations

More communication and promotion

A householder approach – e.g. an information guide

Chemicals labelling scheme for household products

Initiate and support community projects

Work with water industry to promote best practice

I came here today because of the money, but it’s flown by, it’s been fascinating. I’m thinking

totally differently now!’It felt very personal that the facilitators took the time to refer to us by

nameI think it has been an eye-opener – I wondered how we’d talk about water for 6 hours but

we have.

The pace was good and there was not point where I felt bored or under stimulated

Evaluation