User Involvement Shared Learning Group presentation1st December 2011Tim Hughes - Involvehttp://www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk

Final report Summary report

The reports

Briefing papers

Informing and influencing policy

Local engagement in

democracy

Volunteering as a participation

pathway

Available from:www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources

How and why does participation begin and continue?

Research questions

Can trends and patterns of participation be identified over time?

What connections, if any, are there between different forms and episodes of participation and what triggers movement between them?

Approach

3 field work areas:

LeedsEnfieldSuffolk

Individual at the heart

Qualitative research

101 in-depth interviews

Participation as ‘situated practice’

Stakeholder engagement

Life stories

What is participation?Social participation: the collective activities that individuals are involved in

Public participation: the engagement of individuals with the various structures and institutions of democracy

Individual participation: people’s individual actions and choices that reflect the kind of society they want to live in

Why participation starts

An emotional reactionA personal life eventAn external influence

Practical resourcesLearnt resourcesFelt resources

Groups and organisationsLocal environment and place

Helping othersDeveloping relationshipsExercising values & beliefsHaving influenceFor personal benefitBeing part of something

Why participation continues or stopsFriendship

s

Life event

Relationships

TimeHealth

Enjoyment

Impact

Energy

The factors that shape participationIndividual motivations and resources

Relationships and social networks

Groups and organisations

Local environment and place

Wider societal and global influences

Trends and patterns of participation over time

Critical moments

Life stage

Priorities

Integrated involvement

Core-peripheral

Connections between activities

Participation connections

Motivating forces

Values and beliefs

Interests

An issue

Skills

Implications for user involvement

Importance of...

Feeling valued

Having an impact

Who you know

The experienceResources

Being able to talk the talk

Common purpose / Collective endeavour

Some questions...

Can opportunities for involvement be created that fit with people’s everyday lives?

How can user involvement empower people?

How can people be better connected?

How can user involvement be linked with other forms of participation?

Is there a dark side to user involvement?

How can a culture of involvement be embedded in organisations?