Practical Participation Systems
The design for practical participation systems builds on 8 years of prior research which documented the work of people across the world who were creating a different model for how to build sustainable urban neighbourhoods.
These asset based, decentralised approaches, were highly diverse in form and content, but were united by a simple and powerful idea; that everyone has ideas and contributions to bring and that by designing for inclusion and with the right invitation everyone could participate.
These systems use a unique combination of:
A network of open access neighbourhood spaces
Opportunities to learn and make together
Access to equipment, resources and training
Reliable practical support from a trained team.
The aim is to produce a living ecosystem of thousands of participation opportunities for local people, reaching all parts of the community and designed to fit around the realities of people’s day to day lives.
Practical
Hands-on ideas
Practical participation systems build on the inspiration of the hundreds of ‘hands on’ projects that people have been creating over the last twenty years in neighbourhoods across the world.
These types of projects welcome people from all walks of life and include:
• Sharing skills, spaces and resources.
• Families working and playing more together.
• Batch cooking and community meals.
• Food growing and tree planting.
• Trading, making and repairing.
Support for
getting things
going
Practical participation systems provide residents with the support they need to bring their ideas to life quickly.
A trained team is in place to make things as simple as possible - including:
Finding useful spaces for the projects (kitchens, workshops storage spaces etc.)
Supplying materials and equipment for practical activities - no form filling for grants.
Arranging insurances and health and safety.
Holding festivals, workshops and business programmes.
Key features of practical
participation systems
Imagine high street project shops around the borough, or place you live, and one large public Makerspace to develop skills for free.
Over 6 years, 350 neighbourhood projects have been started with lots of local people participating, with as much or as little support as needed, including cooking beekeeping, growing, making repairing and much more.
People pop in to have a cup of tea and share their ideas for new projects in the area, working with the project team to bring those ideas to life, without lots of hoops!
Many small things done by many people really add up, and really do make friendly, healthy and happy neighbourhoods.
There’s evidence that people connect faster whilst doing practical things together, which helps to make everyday life better for everyone.
Lots of wonderful things are being achieved by local people, families, friends and neighbours!