Methods: What are you going to do?
Suggestion boxes
A flier may be distributed to everyone in the community inviting people to make comments and suggestions, for example about what they like/dislike about the area. Suggestion boxes would be placed at points around the parish, for example the village hall, shop, pub, doctors surgery.
Dont ask too many questions on an initial flier; it will only put people off. Just go for one or two to gauge the opinion of the Parish and use it also to advertise the open meeting that they will be able to attend in the coming weeks.
Flip Chart exercise/comment charts
Is often used at open meetings and drop-in events. People are encouraged to write their ideas and suggestions onto post it notes and stick them onto the flip chart paper. There may be headings and bullet points written on the flip chart paper to act as prompts.
Each person can be provided with a pack of post it notes and a pen and may stick their suggestions up without feeling pressured or scrutinised.
Planning for Real
Planning for Real is a community consultation method that involves the creation of a scale map (1:1250) of the relevant community onto which all community members are able to place their ideas, suggestions, comments and actions for the future of their area. The map is portable and therefore can be transported to many locations and groups. The BRCC can advise where to obtain maps and relevant materials from. Take a look at the Comunity Planning Handbook website for lots of useful info on Planning for Real by clicking this external link
Community Planning Handbook.
Questionnaires
Questionnaires are very useful when carefully designed, piloted and implemented. It is important to consider what information you are hoping to obtain from each question and the reason why you are asking it. Please see the questionnaire page by clicking here
Questionnaire for some tips on how to write and analyse a successful questionnaire.
Competitions
This could take the form of a photo competition or a drawing competition. People could either be provided with disposable cameras to take pictures of what they like and what they dislike about their community or they could be asked to draw a picture. There is potential to include the entries in a display at a future exhibition or community event.
Walkabout
A walkabout involves community members walking through their local area and recording positive and negative features of interest. It is possible to undertake this activity individually or in groups and local schools may take an entire class
Quiz
A quiz can retain all the enjoyment and entertainment of a traditional quiz whilst incorporating a consultation exercise. The quiz could be divided into rounds that cover topics such as transport, entertainment, sport, environment etc. The questions within each round could cover a range of historical, current and topical issues. At the end of each round sheets are passed to the teams to provide an opportunity for people to put forward their suggestions and possible actions for the local area under each of the topic headings.
Focus Groups and Workshops
Provides an opportunity for a focused, in depth discussion around specific issues and the opportunity to work towards coming up with some detailed actions.
Scoring and ranking
Enables community members to
select their favoured options from a group of options. Each person may be asked
to place a tick or sticky dot in the boxes next to their favoured options.
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