I often get asked for advice and guidance on how to do participation well. Here's a thread of 7 thoughts: https://twitter.com/SarahJCampbll/status/1291802700913541120

1. The first step is to respect the skills and expertise needed to do it well and invest in in-house expertise to guide the rest of the organisation on how to do it. This would demonstrate real commitment.

2. This is not something that can be added on to an existing person's job after a conversation with another org doing this work. Ultimately it's a huge organisational culture shift that is required. This takes A LOT of time, energy, passion and commitment from across the org.

3. Plus someone who has double the amount of passion, energy and commitment to drive it, building relationships and buy in across the organisation. Along with the skills and expertise and confidence to break ground in this area for your org.

4. It needs buy in from across all levels of the org. From the most senior at CEO level to those who enable things to happen. If you have the senior buy in but not the driver it won't work. If you have the driver but not the buy in it won't work.

5. There are loads of ace grassroots groups that do this well, if you don't employ someone internally, partner with a community partner and pay them to share their expertise with you, thus supporting vital work happening on the ground and respecting the skill set needed to do it

6. In conclusion, chatting to someone and asking for advice unfortunately isn't really going to be enough. It needs deep commitment and investment.

7. If you do have the expertise and you want to join JRF to help break ground for our organisation on co-designing and co-influencing on policy solutions. We are investing in, and we deeply respect the skill set you would be bringing to the organisation. See the ad at the top.