Venues: where are you going to conduct the consultation?
Existing community groups and societies
Offer/ask to attend existing groups. It is an opportunity to talk to a group of people with shared interests. It is important not to dominate the proceedings and to make sure any consultation methods used are relaxed and informal.Schools
By working with the local schools it may be possible to obtain the views of a large number of young people in the community. Children represent an important area of the community and too often they are under-involved in the Parish Action Plan process.Pubs, shop, post office, church
Many people attend these venues at some point in the week. It may give you an opportunity to consult those who are unable to attend an open meeting. These places also provide a good location for people to return completed fliers or questionnaires to.Village Hall / Community Building
Could be used to host a drop-in event or open meeting. Designed to be informal, people will be able to commit as much time as they want.Popular events
e.g.- village fetes and school sports days.Having a stall at these events may enable you to consult with a large number of people on one occasion. It is likely to increase participation levels by combining with a social occasion. These events often attract the majority of the village and provide an ideal opportunity to canvas feeling in the community.