Research and Evidence

Engagement is an increasingly important aspect of policy-making, though it is currently not always effectively integrated into decisions. However, there is a growing body of evidence on how engagement can help achieve sustainable development; we have listed some of the key thinking below.

For a more comprehensive list of research covering a broader range of engagement-related topics visit the People & Participation Library

Reports

	SDC Position on Engagement – outlines how engagement is relevant to sustainable development, the benefits of engagement and key principles.
	Action Inquiry – The SDC funded an action inquiry process for SD communicators from different organisations. This report outlines what worked, what didn’t and how the approach could be applied further in government.
	Citizens' Council for Future primer – this paper sets out the rationale and requirement for a citizens' council, a new space for UK citizens to engage with and inform long-term political thinking.
	Engagement & Political Space (IPPR) - a look at how more effective engagement could open up political space for action on climate change
	Engage for Change (Involve) - What role does engagement have in sustainable policy making and how does it fit with today's civil service? The SDC commissioned Involve to find out
	Warm Words 2 - IPPR's latest report on how climate change is being communicated to the public and the implications of this
	Pro-Social Behavoiour - Matthew Taylor - A thinkpiece that looks at the role of the citizens in politics and society
	SDC's response to 'National Framework for Greater Citizen Engagement' - Our detailed response to the Ministry of Justice discussion paper.

Useful Websites

	CLG – Department that leads on prosperous and cohesive
	communities, offering a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for all.
	Compass Network – a global community that exchanges
	knowledge and creativity in sustainability communications.
	Consultation Institute – Seeks to promote the highest standards
	of public, stakeholder and employee consultation by initiating research, publications and specialist events .
	Demos – the think tank for 'everyday democracy'.
	Our aim is to put this idea into practice by working with organisations in ways that make them more effective and legitimate.
	Involve – A charity dedicated to looking how public participation
	can positively and productively change the lives of individuals and improve the working practices of institutions.
	Ministry of Justice Democratic Engagement Branch - A
	government team that looks at how to strengthen relations and dialogue between government, representatives and citizens in a changing society, and how to harness new ways of engaging.
	NHS Centre for Involvement - helping patients and the public become better engaged in health services
	Participation Cymru - Aims to provide support, information
	and training around public engagement and participation in Wales.
	People and Participation - An interactive website that gives
	detailled advice on process, methods, case studies, news and events.
	Smith Institute - An independent think tank,
	which has been set up to undertake research and education in issues that flow from the changing relationship between social values and economic imperatives.
	The Environment Council - A charity that works to
	put environment at the heart of people's choices, decisions and aspirations. Our goal is to transform conventional decision-making to make environment as important as economics and politics.
	Uk community participation network (UKCPN) - Discussion
	list is run by InterAct, an alliance of practitioners, writers, researchers and policy makers committed to putting effective deliberative, participatory and cooperative approaches at the heart of debate, decision-making and action in the UK. To subscribe, send a blank email to: UKCPN@yahoo.co.uk