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.
	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

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