The National Standards for Community Engagement Review and Refresh – 2015/16

What are the National Standards for Community Engagement ? Measurable performance statements for good community engagement Built from community experience Designed by community and agency representatives Based on best practice principles Specific enough to guide actions Useable in different types of engagement Achieving highest quality practice Endorsed by key stakeholders and 3 national events Launched in May 2005 Review and refresh – 2015/16

National Standards for Community Engagement – review and refresh 2015/16 In light of recent policy developments in Scotland, with a focus on strengthening participation and community engagement, SCDC and What Works Scotland are working with the Scottish Government to review and refresh the National Standards. Purpose of the Review Process: Assessment of content, applicability and relevance Ensure usability across sectors Agree a common definition and shared language Refresh and modernise the ‘brand’

National Standards for Community Engagement – review and refresh 2015/16 Phase 1 (June to November ‘15) Desk research National survey ‘Reunion’ event Focus groups First draft revision Phase 2 (Nov ‘15 to Mar ’16) Testing phase – in 3 CPP sites and 1 community-led site Consultation on name change Final draft and launch Other related elements: Easy Read version Parallel development of VOiCE Development of support materials National Standards for Community Engagement – review and refresh 2015/16

What do we mean by Community Engagement?

'Community engagement' is a planned process with the specific purpose of working with identified groups of people, whether they are connected by geographic location, special interest, or affiliation or identify to address issues affecting their well-being’ (State Government - Victoria) ‘Defining community engagement is challenging: it can mean quite different things in different circumstances ranging from simple provision of information and consultation through to delegated power and control to citizens (Arnstein, 1969). Without a clear and common understanding of what community engagement means in a given context, activities may be pitched at an inappropriate level of engagement and therefore be ineffective’ (Home Office Development and Practice Report 48, 2007) ‘Developing and sustaining a working relationship between one or more public body and one or more community group, to help them both to understand and act on the needs or issues that the community experiences’ (Scottish National Standards for Community Engagement, 2005) Some Definitions

What does good quality community engagement look like?

What does a revised set of Standards look like?

Further Information For further information about the National Standards Review process please contact: David Allan:Tel / – Paul Nelis:Tel – / – or visit the Standards review page on the SCDC website SCDC also produce a range of briefings on community development aspects of key pieces of legislation including the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act – visit the SCDC website at or the Communities Channel Scotland website at