Participation Unit - Case Studies
Case Study: Budget Consultation
Escalating annual payments. Pensioners' protests. Opposition policies to 'Axe the Tax'. Council tax is a political hot potato. The Government expects local councils to consult its residents and stakeholders when setting budgets, but how can this be done in a balanced and effective way when the issue is so emotive and yet largely misunderstood?
Case Study: Public Attitudes Towards Funding for Research Into Diet and Health
Hardly a magazine or newspaper nowadays is complete without an article about diet and health; from the latest celebrity diet craze to stories about the benefits — or lack thereof — of almost every type of food going. To complicate matters, much of this content is contradictory and can be a minefield to negotiate. In the midst of this information barrage, how can a scientific funding body elucidate what public attitudes towards research into diet and health are and which areas they feel should be prioritised for future funding?
Case Study: Young People Having Their Say
This is one example of a deliberative exercise conducted by a local authority, which was highly successful in engaging young people — traditionally viewed by policy-makers as a hard-to-reach and disengaged audience.
Case Study: Discovering Residents' Views of Waste Management
Dwindling landfill capacity combined with an increasingly 'disposable society' means that waste reduction, reuse and recycling are escalating up the agenda. But how much do the public know or care about these issues? And, how best can service providers engage their interest and involvement in reversing this trend?
Case Study: Changing Attitudes to Cycling
Reducing traffic congestion, better air quality, getting fitter and reducing noise pollution … the benefits of cycling are well documented. So why don't more people do it and how can they be persuaded to change their minds and get on their bikes?