2. Agenda Overview What the community wants Messages from Connecting Communities Values Modes Different channels and techniques The current climate and budget pressures
3. Changing approaches Council newspapers Congruent communications Merging functions Budgets Social media and electronic comms Different channels
4. Real influence matters What do people mean by influence? People don’t separate engagement from their other dealings with the council They base their level of influence on their personal experience of customer services They want to air their experiences/stories People have different motivations at different times These vary according to people’s values and this requires different approaches to communications You need realistic expectations of residents’ knowledge Participants in formal mechanisms belong to a self-selecting group
5. People’s values inform their approach to engagement. Some people... don’t engage, believing they won’t be listened to don’t know how to engage...but feel they will be ignored anyway believe they best influence through personal contact don’t feel they have enough time ( too busy) feel they will be fobbed off with someone junior only trust messages from people they know / like them seek influence by joining up with like minded people engage in wider civic society, but might not feel this gives them influence are disappointed at a lack of feedback: nothing changes
6. So what? Most people feel they have had influence if they feel listened to, even if they are not “obeyed”. They definitely want OUTCOMES.
20. What might have motivated them? “I bet the neighbours will be impressed!” “Petrol prices are going up and I will save money!” “It's good for the environment!”
27. Prospectors: 'better and the best', league tables, recognition, awards, being winners, fashion (but not too innovative) immediate tangible visible results, the best answers
32. At a quick glanceWe can only afford to repair this vandalism so many times before we will have to pull money from other important areas. Therefore, we need your help to keep our town clean. If you know who is causing this trouble, let us know. Together we can keep our town safe and clean! DID YOU KNOW? Every time the bins get damaged it attracts rats. These rats carry all kinds of diseases and attack our local wildlife. You can chat to (name) about any anti-social behaviour, Call 011 8888 666 or name@council.gov.uk PHOTO
33. Our staff and partners Residents The framework Supporting data sharing between organisations Consistent framework for insight gathering Better research Understanding what our residents really think – in all VM groups Understand Embedding Values Modes Working with members and officers (and partners) Written communications Better messaging in magazine and website; localising newsletters Communicate Communications with staff Communicating organisational change Community communicators Using word of mouth communication to target settlers: two way messages Developing staff as advocates Localised staff engagement programmes for two-way messaging Change Building civic participation Developing and targeting opportunities – beyond pioneers Changing services Using VMs to understand how we can reshape services
