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Go Vocal’s blog—get insights, advice, and all the latest information on trends to help you foster meaningful engagement.
Go Vocal’s blog—get insights, advice, and all the latest information on trends to help you foster meaningful engagement.
Every local government and organisation that has launched a community engagement project knows the challenge: How do you reach underrepresented groups? In this article, we’ll cover some of the good practices for inclusive community engagement so that you’ll be ready to broaden your participation and activate even hard-to-reach target groups.
AI is transforming how local governments connect with their residents – making community engagement more efficient, focused, and impactful. From sentiment analysis to real-time insights, AI equips staff with the resources and insights to improve decision-making and increase community trust and satisfaction.
Public spaces should be equitably distributed, open to everyone, and inclusively designed. It’s no wonder that many urban planning processes now focus on placemaking, the people-centered approach to planning and design of public spaces. More than ever before, there is recognition of the importance of neighbourhoods and the significance of factors such as walkability, public transportation, access to jobs, and diverse housing options. And even beyond their immediate neighbourhoods, people’s expectations of the public realm have changed.
Over the last few years, there’s been a shift from top-down governance to more horizontally organized types of governance. This new political current includes all the stakeholders of public policy projects, such as public organizations, businesses and community members, into the decision-making process.
In a time where problems with governance can be overwhelming, governments are frantically searching for a solution. There is a constant debate about how exactly a government should go about facilitating change, whether that be with incremental improvement or radical change.
With engaged fans spending six times more than casual supporters and generating a 306% higher lifetime value, the Football Governance Bill creates unprecedented revenue opportunities for clubs that move beyond basic compliance. To fully capitalise on these opportunities, clubs should invest in a robust engagement platform that enables them to effectively gather, analyse, and respond to fan feedback at scale.
The terms “community engagement” and “community development” are sometimes used interchangeably. After all, both ideas are based on the strength and improvement of our communities. Nonetheless, there are a few key distinctions between the two concepts. Let’s take a closer look at what they are.
Local authorities around the world are increasingly adopting a "more-than-human" perspective to incorporate nature's voice in policymaking. This involves innovative approaches like citizens' assemblies where participants represent non-human species, public engagement projects to gather opinions on the future needs of animals, and granting legal personhood to natural entities. Additionally, artificial intelligence is being explored to embody non-human perspectives. These efforts aim to shift conventional power dynamics in decision-making and enhance ecological stewardship, ultimately building more resilient democracies that can safeguard all life on the planet.
Diverse representation in decision-making promotes democratic legitimacy by building trust in local governments. When residents see themselves reflected in decisions, they’re more likely to support new initiatives. In a recent client-exclusive community session, we explored practical ways to boost diversity: starting with planning, tailoring communication channels, offering incentives, piloting new ideas, meeting people where they are, and keeping engagement consistent.
It sounds like a contradiction in terms, like ‘sound of silence’ or ‘sensible Twitter debate’. But ‘slacktivism’, a contraction of ‘activism’ and uh, ‘slacking’, has become a widespread phenomenon that urges us to reflect on the nature of activism and participation.
Have you ever had difficulty getting leadership buy-in for your engagement projects? It’s a concern we hear often: how to get both management and political leadership on board with participation initiatives. Management’s backing is crucial for having your whole organisation get behind your engagement platform, while getting the ear of politicians helps ensure the community will be involved in the projects at the top of their To Do list.
Looking for the best way to engage your resident? This article breaks down 10 of the most popular community engagement tools, from quick polls to deliberative assemblies. Each method comes with its own strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases – so choosing the right one matters.
To choose the right community engagement method, you need to consider five key factors: the level of influence you want to offer, your target audience, available resources, the topic at hand, and how methods work together over time. This guide walks you through each of these steps to help you select effective, inclusive, and realistic participation strategies.
Ever wish you’d known sooner? That a new policy was quietly frustrating residents in one neighborhood. That a group felt shut out of the planning process again. Or that something was up with service delivery long before it hit your inbox as a complaint.
Young people care about their communities, but most feel shut out of the conversation. It’s not that they don’t want to participate in local decisions. They just don’t see how or if it’s really worth the effort. Outdated systems, complex processes, and inaccessible formats create invisible walls. This article breaks down how local governments can break through those barriers – with 10 practical strategies to engage youth in ways that actually work.
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Instead of the exhausting cycle of big-splash projects followed by digital silence, smart governments are making sure residents are engaged year-round. From simple monthly questions to seasonal activities and always-open feedback forms, there are multiple ways to keep community members invested without draining your team. Here are a few strategies discussed during one of Go Vocal's client-exclusive community sessions.
Improving community engagement starts with removing key barriers like unclear communication, lack of trust, poor accessibility, weak strategy design, and internal misalignment. This article breaks down these common challenges and provides proven strategies – like transparent processes, inclusive participation, and better coordination – to help boost meaningful engagement.
We've never had more tools to connect with our communities and countless promise to “revolutionise” community engagement. Yet, a paradox exists: too many engagement initiatives still fall short. What's the missing ingredient? In 2025, it's understanding the five critical features that drive genuine connection and lasting impact.
The impact of communications work can sometimes be hard to quantify – and if you’re tight on budget, you might be wondering how to justify the cost. Here, we meet 2 local governments whose sharp engagement project branding has led to more inclusive participation in their communities.
Governments are increasingly recognising the value of petitions. This engagement method empowers residents to shape policies directly, leaning on their unique insights and lived experiences. However, implementing a petitions process isn't as simple as flipping a switch. Success requires thoughtful planning, internal buy-in, and the right tooling.
For many governments, building trust and ensuring transparency in budget allocation are ongoing challenges. Enter participatory budgeting: a proven approach that empowers communities to have a say in how public funds are spent. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the advantages and challenges of participatory budgeting, explore real-world examples, and provide actionable steps for getting started.
Online engagement tools enable you to reach a large number of community members in an instant. But not everyone is so simple to reach. Here, we meet four local governments using low- and no-tech engagement methods like WhatsApp, SMS, in-person visits, and the good old telephone to ensure the underheard voices in their community get a chance to have their say.
Are you tired of seeing only the same faces show up at every town hall meeting? Frustrated by low engagement rates and lacklustre feedback? You're not alone. Many peers struggle to engage their communities and get meaningful input. But it doesn't have to be this way. This blog post will share ten best practices to help you break the cycle of low engagement and boost participation.
