Only_Reconnect.pdf

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 1/24 - Only Reconnect

Only Reconnect

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 2/24 - About the Institute for Community Studie…

About the Institute for Community Studies

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 3/24 - Contents

Contents

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 4/24 - Introduction

Introduction

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 5/24 - How did we get here?

How did we get here?

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 6/24 - The Reconnection Tour was about bearing …

The Reconnection Tour was about bearing witness to the stories and voices of the disconnection, as well as to the efforts of local communities to connect and support each other. The tour also sought to encourage policy-makers and wider society to `bear witness themselves, and take action in response to the stories.

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 7/24 - Source: Engage Britain, 2022.

Source: Engage Britain, 2022.

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 8/24 - The Reconnection Summit

The Reconnection Summit

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 9/24 - The continuous and steadily widening pro…

The continuous and steadily widening process of engagement during the tour helped to paint a richer picture of the conditions facing community organisations across the country. Though the GAN identified poverty as a key theme at the outset of its cocreation work, broader participation situated this theme within the wider context of the cost-of-living crisis � compounding damage done to the resilience VSCE organisations and economically marginalised community members during the pandemic. In the words of a GAN member at the Reconnection Summit, the Local Hubs and Reconnection Tour stops provided the `meat on the bones for the eventual direction of the Summit.

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 10/24 - What is policy co-design?

What is policy co-design?

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 11/24 - Why do co-design?

Why do co-design?

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 12/24 - The Summit as a co-design process

The Summit as a co-design process

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 13/24 - The challenge facing Engage Britain and …

The challenge facing Engage Britain and the GAN reflects its `bottom up process in engaging community members. Co-design processes are often seen as starting with policy decision-makers, who choose to engage their stakeholders differently (see, for example, Gouillart & Hallet, 2015). The role of third-party organisations in this process is, typically, as facilitators between stakeholders and decision-makers. For example, HMPPS Wales and the Ministry of Justice in the Ely and Caerau wards of Cardiff have engaged Telescope, a third-party social enterprise, to facilitate co-creation workshops with community members on new approaches to probation (Telescope, n.d.).

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 14/24 - Key success factors

Key success factors

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 15/24 - The central role of stories and storytel…

The central role of stories and storytelling proved motivating during the day. Interspersed between steps in the co-design process, GAN members and other participants shared stories in front of the room about their experiences of connection and disconnection in their community, as well as the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. This reflected an objective identified by the GAN in its earlier workshops to bear witness to those feeling isolated and disconnection, and providing a space to feel valued and heard (Grassroot Advisory Network, & Engage Britain, 2021). As community activity had often started in response to a need, many of these stories focused on the activity and history of GAN voluntary, community and social enterprise (VSCE) organisations. At table discussions, the authors noted multiple points where stories were used to emphasise points and articulate need.

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 16/24 - An example of an ask with voting sticker…

An example of an ask with voting stickers. Source: Engage Britain (@EngageBritain) / Twitter, 2022

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 17/24 - Continuous engagement

Continuous engagement

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 18/24 - Lessons learned

Lessons learned

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 19/24 - Information sharing

Information sharing

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 20/24 - Representation

Representation

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 21/24 - Decision-making apparatus

Decision-making apparatus

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 22/24 - Conclusion

Conclusion

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 23/24 - Bibliography

Bibliography

Only_Reconnect.pdf - page 24/24