Step 6: Stakeholder Recruitment
Once a target community has been identified (common interest or geographic), appropriate methods of engagement should be utilised. Participants should be provided with relevant background and a process overview to enable them to give informed consent to take part and engage meaningfully.
Plan accessible stakeholder recruitment and onboarding
Once a target community has been identified (community of interest or community of place), appropriate methods of engagement for recruitment should be utilised.
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Participants should be provided with relevant background information and a process overview to enable them to give informed consent to take part and engage meaningfully.
Questions for Project Leads
- Are there methods of sign-up for those in the community who do not have digital access?
- Who in the team is going to be a point of contact for community members who have questions or need support at this stage? How will a suitable person be identified?
- What background information and resources do the community need to fully understand this project?
- How will you ensure all participants have provided informed consent to take part in the community engagement process?
Useful Resources
Suggested Actions
- Have a dedicated, public-facing point of contact for the community to speak to directly, supporting understanding while addressing concerns and building connections.
- Consider innovative ways to engage with people who don't normally participate in standard community engagement processes. For example, using arts and theatre activities to engage people.
- Understand a range of learning styles (e.g. visual, practical, listening, etc.) and develop a process which is accommodating of diverse participation needs.
- Use a mix of in-person and online methods of communication, ensuring people have the time to communicate in a way (and location) they feel comfortable in.
- Gather informed consent from participants to support evidence gathering and sharing of outputs publicly and/or with auditors, including consent to take part, to hold information, for photographs, for use of names, etc.
- Remove any potential burdens engaging might put on an individual – pay gift of thanks, provide transport, host sessions over a range of time, etc.
- Recognise, highlight and value different groups within the community (landowners, business owners, residents, service employees/providers, etc.)
- Create opportunities for individual conversation, utilising spaces in which individuals will be comfortable engaging one-to-one. Make use of local community spaces (e.g. pubs, community halls, local hubs). This supports relationships between the project team and the community, and provides a safe space for community members to ask clarifying questions or raise concerns which they do not feel comfortable sharing in a public space.
- Recognise that not everyone wants to be involved; celebrate and value those that do.
Example Evidencing Measures
- Identify staff acting as direct contact for the community
- Share online and physical sign-up routes
- Privacy and data information shared with participants
- How participant information was gathered and reviewed
- Anonymised breakdown of demographics engaged with
Example Consent Form
USEFUL RESOURCE. Source - Deciding matters
Participants should be provided with relevant background information and a process overview to enable them to give informed consent to take part and engage meaningfully.
Community Inclusion Standard Best Practice Guide by Nature Finance Certification Alliance
is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
community inclusion standard best practice guide
Now work reflexively and adapting to meet community needs