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Community engagement in Brighton & Hove

What is community engagement?

Community engagement can be many things, from being consulted about something the council is thinking of doing to  support for a project, or being involved in the delivery of a service. 

This may include providing access to a variety of information, support, training, advice and signposting.  It can also help communities get resources, funds, support and networks to enable ongoing development.

Delivered effectively, community engagement can:

  • Support people to take control over the issues that affect their lives.  This can help lead to the development of social and economic opportunities to meet needs, and active and inclusive communities.
  • Increase understanding about the needs and priorities of different communities.  This helps inform improvements to services, and the way they are delivered to ensure equality of access and value for money.
  • Increase involvement in local decision making and democratic processes.

Community Engagement Framework (CEF)

The Brighton & Hove Strategic Partnership has developed a Community Engagement Framework for the city. The framework is the key reference for organisations that are members of the partnership.

The framework sets out the strategic aims and guiding principles for community engagement within Brighton & Hove and priority actions that need to be taken to improve practice.

Download a copy of the Community Engagement Framework [PDF 285kb]

Download a copy of the Easy Read Community Engagement Framework  [PDF 351kb]

For more information see the Brighton & Hove Strategic Partnership website

Community Engagement Training

For details of our current training programme go to the Community Engagement Training Programme 2013.

In July 2011 a series of case studies was published, showing the range of activities learners undertook following their participation in the 2010-11 Community Engagement Training Programme.  Please view the case studies report here. [PDF 2.88 MB]

Reward and Recognition Guidance

This Reward & Recognition Guidance is a toolkit for anyone planning to carry out engagement activities. It offers practical advice on how to appropriately acknowledge and value the participation of individuals and groups/organisations in these engagement activities.

During consultation around the Community Engagement Framework (CEF), respondents expressed the need for consistency around reward and recognition. It was stressed that this did not necessarily mean financial reward, but recognition of the value that their time, knowledge and expertise brought. Respondents requested common guidelines and minimum standards. The aim of this guidance is to help remove barriers for those service users who would like to engage with public bodies and should be used together with the CEF.

Download the Reward and Recognition Guidance [MS Word 144 KB]

Good practice in Community Engagement

Below are some examples of good practice in community engagement work:

If you have an example of a piece of engagement work which you feel was particularly successful and would like to promote it here, you can download the Case Study Template [MS Word 20kb] or contact the Communities Team email - communitiesteam@brighton-hove.gov.uk  

Financial Inclusion

The Council are currently looking at Financial Inclusion and what must be done to better support residents. A report with an action plan went to Policy and Resources Committee in March 2013. We are currently compiling a needs assessment to inform the action plan. Please find below the current draft needs assessment plus appendices. 

Download the Draft Financial Inclusion Needs Assessment [MS Word 466KB]

Download Appendix A [MS Word 49 KB]

Download Appendix B [MS Word 46 KB]

Download Appendix C [MS Word 59 KB]

Download the Draft Financial Inclusion Outcomes [MS Word 31 KB]

The council also commissioned Toynbee Hall to look into some of these issues and make some early recommendations to us. You can find a copy of that report here. Download Toynbee Hall Report [PDF 556KB]

 A dedicated page on Financial Inclusion will be created soon and the Council and Democracy pages will have a link to the report once it is published around 14th March 2013.

Useful links

For more information about the Framework contact:

Communities Team
Brighton & Hove City Council
Room 429 Kings House, Grand Avenue,
Hove BN3 2LS

Email: communitiesteam@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Tel: (01273) 295053

Or 

Stronger Communities Partnership
c/o Brighton & Hove Community and Voluntary Sector Forum
Brighton Junction, 1A Isetta Square
35 New England Street
Brighton  BN1 4GQ

Email: info@cvsectorforum.org.uk
Tel: (01273) 810230


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Brighton & Hove City Council | Kings House | Grand Avenue | Hove | BN3 2LS | Tel: (01273) 290000 | Mail: info@brighton-hove.gov.uk | how to find us | comments & complaints