Community Cohesion Strategy

A report from The Campaign Company

Summary

The engagement process

3.1 Who was consulted?

We were keen to ensure that the following stakeholder groups were enabled to contribute in the development of the community cohesion strategy:

Local residents
Voluntary and community sector organisations
Small businesses and social enterprises

It was also keen to ensure that the following communities of interest are included within these groups:

Black and minority ethnic groups
Disabled people
Older and younger age groups
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities
Faith communities
Gypsies and travellers
Women
Members of the community who do not usually engage with the council or other consultation events (e.g. white UK groups)

The bulk of activity was focused around consulting with the public.

3.2 How we consulted

The key to any successful engagement is to ensure that the communications methods used are fit to successfully reach the particular target group. A starting point is recognising that your target audience is not homogenous. The consultation took place under the council's branded 'Tell Us' consultation banner.

These methods ranged from traditional consultation techniques to more innovative techniques specifically designed to reach out and engage with 'harder to reach' groups.

These included the 'Videoqube' (a mobile video diary room) and 'Writing on the Wall' (a mobile graffiti wall) which were used in public areas such as shopping centres and outdoor markets and particularly successful in engaging members of the community who do not usually engage with the council or other consultation events.

We have also reached out via direct face to face survey work in public places such as libraries, Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club, and social clubs so that as many people as possible had an opportunity to contribute.

The techniques we used to engage with the different stakeholders and target groups are outlined below:

a) Engagement with the public

Door-knocking campaign in Gascoigne, Goresbrook, Alibon and Heath wards
Postal survey (followed up by phone) to local residents in the other wards to ensure geographic representation)
Videoqube events at local shopping centres, local street markets and Barking College
Writing on the Wall events at local shopping centres, local street markets, leisure centres, and the Barking and Dagenham Young People's Conference
Depth interviews with Tenants and Residents Association representatives
Design and facilitation of Community Cohesion workshop at Seen and Heard Young Peoples' Conference
Face to face surveys at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club
Face to face surveys in local libraries
Face to face surveys in social clubs
Our 'Tell Us' hotline was also advertised on all surveys distributed allowing people to ring us if they wanted to complete surveys by phone or if they had concerns

b) Engagement with voluntary and community sector organisations:

Postal survey to all members of Voluntary and Community Sector database
Facilitated discussions and depth interviews with Voluntary and Community Sector groups

c) Local businesses

Depth interviews with small business representatives

3.3 What was asked?

As part of this consultation The Campaign Company were trying to ascertain from participants:

How they felt about Barking and Dagenham as it was now
What changes they wanted to see in Barking and Dagenham in the future
What they thought would make Barking and Dagenham a strong community and a good place to live
How they thought the council could promote respect, togetherness, fairness and safety within the community
Whether they would be willing to engage in future consultation events

Contact

Heather Wills

Head of Community Services, Libraries and Heritage

Civic Centre

Rainham Road North

Dagenham

RM10 7BN

Tel: 020 8227 2786

Fax: 020 8227 2241

Textphone: 020 8227 2462

Email: heather.wills@lbbd.gov.uk|