Community Development Consultants

Effective community engagement is a continuous process that builds trust and strengthens relationships over time. It requires thoughtful planning and design to ensure that each engagement activity contributes to the overarching goals. Engaging community or voluntary groups can vary in involvement, from advisory roles to co-designing and executing projects. Key considerations for planning include:

• Desired participation level.
• Stakeholder identification.
• Communication strategies.
• Engagement stage.
• Resource allocation.
• Potential limitations.
• Providing feedback and outlining next steps.
• Selecting appropriate engagement tools and methods.

The engagement process's purpose and scope should be clear from the start. It could aim to identify community needs, build consensus on proposals, inform decision-making, foster new collaborative approaches, or review progress. A well-defined purpose aids in setting objectives, outcomes, and the engagement's depth, from consultation to active involvement in decision-making.t