pathways through participation

Report Launch13th September 2011One Birdcage Walk

Final report Summary report

The reports

How and why does participation begin and continue?

Research questions

Can trends and patterns of participation be identified over time?

What connections, if any, are there between different forms and episodes of participation and what triggers movement between them?

Approach

3 field work areas:

LeedsEnfieldSuffolk

Individual at the heart

Qualitative research

101 in-depth interviews

Participation as ‘situated practice’

Stakeholder engagement

Life stories

What is participation?Social participation: the collective activities that individuals are involved in

Public participation: the engagement of individuals with the various structures and institutions of democracy

Individual participation: people’s individual actions and choices that reflect the kind of society they want to live in

What is participation?

Common features:VoluntaryAbout actionCollective or connectedPurposeful

Perceptions of participation are contradictory

Participation impacts on people and places

Conflict and tension are an integral part of participation

Participation is widespread

The factors that shape participationIndividual motivations and resources

Relationships and social networks

Groups and organisations

Local environment and place

Wider societal and global influences

Why participation starts

An emotional reactionA personal life eventAn external influence

Practical resourcesLearnt resourcesFelt resources

Groups and organisationsLocal environment and place

Helping othersDeveloping relationshipsExercising values & beliefsHaving influenceFor personal benefitBeing part of something

Why participation continues or stopsFriendship

s

Life event

Relationships

TimeHealth

Enjoyment

Impact

Energy

Trends and patterns of participation over time

Critical moments

Life stage

Priorities

Patterns of participation over time

Integrated involvement

Core-peripheral

Connections between activities

Participation connections

Motivating forces

Values and beliefs

Interests

An issue

Skills

Conclusions

Participation is personalParticipation can be encouraged, supported & made more attractive

Significant barriers to participation are entrenched

Available from:

www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources