Step 5: Addressing imbalance
Projects should ensure community engagement is accessible to all, including reducing physical and social barriers to participation, and be sensitive to existing imbalances of power and resource – both present and historical.
Addressing imbalance through equitable and inclusive design
Projects should ensure community engagement is accessible to all, including reducing physical and social barriers to participation, and be sensitive to existing imbalances of power and resource – both present and historical. Projects should support deliberation for the identified community to reach consensus, achieving mutually beneficial outcomes where possible and addressing power dynamics in the room.
Questions for Projects:
- What are the needs of the target community for this process? For example, is it a rural community with minimal access to the internet?
- Are there groups that have historically been unable to participate due to specific unmet needs?
- Is funding available to address these needs, or how could this project address these needs? Are the costs for accessibility in community engagement included in the overall project budget?
- What methods of engagement will be most accessible and appropriate for participants?
- If you are engaging with children and/or young people do you have appropriate safeguarding measures in place?
Resources and case studies:
- Principles of Inclusive Communication (Scottish Government)
Actions:
