by Fraser Henderson | Jul 3, 2026 | Frontpage
We’ve recently been looking at two salient consultations run by local authorities – online ones in the shape of simple questionnaires. The beauty of digital engagement is the metadata which can reveal rich behavioural insights from participants. And while the sample...
by Fraser Henderson | Jun 28, 2026 | Frontpage
The IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation is a globally recognised framework developed by the International Association for Public Participation. It defines the public’s role in planning and decision-making, mapping out five distinct levels of engagement that...
by Fraser Henderson | Jun 15, 2026 | Frontpage
The recent consultation on ‘growing up in an online world’ ran from 2 March 2026 to 26 May 2026. And while the government has already made clear its decision; some organisations have questioned its legitimacy given the output report came after the decision was...
by Fraser Henderson | Jun 13, 2026 | Frontpage
A great failure of our profession seems to be securing adequate buy-in for our work among people with influence. This has been demonstrated in the recent cull of consultation and engagement professionals in the NHS but more generally in the woeful resourcing that...
by Fraser Henderson | May 6, 2026 | Frontpage
An undercooked positive impact of meaningful public participation might be increased voter turn-out. Whilst we have no hard data about that, it’s clear that low citizen participation at election times (c.30% in the UK for decades) is not healthy. It signals that...
by Fraser Henderson | Apr 10, 2026 | Frontpage
Late last month the government announced that ‘Ministers rip up consultation culture’ and it conjured mixed feelings. Local democracy is already in shreds, with mass layoffs in the sector among health and local government professionals, so why stop there? On the one...
