Building Democracy

Can you think of a way to stimulate public discussion?

We want more people to participate in our democracy, and we want you to come up with ways to make this happen.

The UK Government is working hard to connect with people - as you can see in the Governance of Britain programme and the Communities in Control White Paper.

Now we want to support projects that you will run to help people to address public issues and influence government.

If you can think of a way to get people talking, we'd like to hear it. We have £150,000 available to develop about ten proposals.

We see this working in two stages:

1. You float your idea (using the green button on the right), and help others develop their ideas.
2. When you are ready, you submit a full application (using the brown button just below the green button).

We encourage you to strengthen your proposal by discussing your ideas on this site before you submit an application. There are lots of people with all kinds of experience who can give you great tips.

So be imaginative, make a suggestion, share your expertise – and help build a stronger democracy.

UPDATE: There are already some interesting ideas and useful comments - keep them coming! But please remember that when it comes to assessing the formal applications, we will be selecting projects that are directly related to promoting active involvement in democracy. See the criteria and the previous projects we've funded to get an idea of the type of projects we're looking for.

(NB During this initiative, we will be working closely with our colleagues in the Power of Information Taskforce who run Show Us a Better Way and with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills who will help us with evaluation. Check them out.)

DEMOCRACY OUTSIDE THE BOX

Submitted by: Ken Usman-Smith

Describe your idea. What will you do?

Set up and moderate a space that will sit within the TALK site at:http://www.talknet.eu/confluence/display/TALKproject/Innovation+and+Transformation
This will act as a place where blogs and linked wiki based comment will be encouraged. This will be as an 'open meeting' that will run for 9 months. It will hold real and virtual events in locations in the sub egion of Team Manchester with a common theme of DEMOCRACY OUTSIDE THE BOX' and build up to a full wiki format 'book' on what democracy may be to those tasked with managing it today, tomorrow and those who teach these managers and leaders who will be on one side of the channels the citizen use to engage. The ballot box, the TV Box and the PC Box are the places that change is moving in innovative and unlikely ways. But taking the democratic reality outside those boxes to the streets remains the challange, so discuss.

What will the benefits be?

Take the ideas born out of the real time and virtual meetings in new and challenging formats (enabled by Manchester Buiness School and Team Manchester) over nine months. Translate them into a definative WIKI format book on DEMOCRACY OUTSIDE THE BOX. This will give central and local government plicy makers the benefit of innovative and downright scary ideas from those whose skills will help change the democratic world, in the region that historically delivers on thinking outside the box.

Who will you target?

3000+ business students and existing and future staff within the local government market place. The current and future managers and leaders who posses the drive and ideas to think the unthinkable.

Is your idea linked to a particular town or region?

The Greater Manchester sub-region.

What kind of assistance would you like from others?

A commitment to add to the blogs, come to the discusions and just drop in and tune in to simply forget why not and engage with what if?

Online Communities

Submitted by: Jill Sanders

Describe your idea. What will you do?

You can see my idea. It has been operating for almost 11 years, developing organically but entirely unfunded. It could go so much further... It's hardly started. With support there is no telling how many more could become involved - as local reporters, correspondents, contributors to forums, through their own websites and newsletters, etc., etc. Councillors had their own websites here, but didn't use them and weren't willing to co-operate.
www.oncom.org.uk

What will the benefits be?

Everyone will have a voice and a platform where they can be heard, where it matters, where they live. Their issues, concerns, campaigns, events, appeals - all these can be put online by those involved. It is sharing and exchanging across local neighbourhoods, leading to a recreation of community spirit, online.

Who will you target?

Everyone in the community, equally.

Is your idea linked to a particular town or region?

Richmond upon Thames, but it could happen in any local authority area - and it should.

What kind of assistance would you like from others?

Their participation and a willingness to contribute their issues, events, campaigns, news, activities, from Art to Activism.

Internet TV for Blaenau Gwent and the World Wide Web

Submitted by: Robert Ball

Describe your idea. What will you do?

It will create a platform for the community to enter into public debate. It will create a sense of involvement in how our community is managed and how public opinion can mould the development of our area which is one of the most deprived areas in Wales. It will also allow the debate to be promoted worldwide with the ability of having interactions from other areas nationally and internationally.

What will the benefits be?

It will create a sense of greater involvement overcoming the inability to change political thought processes and developments within our area. It will open up public debate and encourage participation.

Who will you target?

Specifically the residents and organisations (voluntary or otherwise) of Blaenau Gwent.

Is your idea linked to a particular town or region?

Blaenau Gwent

What kind of assistance would you like from others?

A sense of enthusiasm in creating a live arena for public debate within our community which will be aired locally, nationally and internationally. A willingness to participate in an innovatie idea that will demonstrate that their words and actions will count.

Power of Influence

Submitted by: Tremaine Herbert

Describe your idea. What will you do?

We will develop a training package with the Community Empowerment Network. This package will aim to raise awareness of ways to develop Neighbourhood Partnerships to influence policy making bodies.

What will the benefits be?

Increased local involvement with issues affecting local neighbourhoods.

Encourage local residents to participate in the democratic processes, moving from influencing local policy making to national policy making.

Who will you target?

Local residents living in areas of defined deprivation as identified by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2007.

Is your idea linked to a particular town or region?

Dudley Metropolitan Borough

What kind of assistance would you like from others?

Support on how to make links with national government departments by the third sector.

EP (E-power)

Submitted by: Mr Namko Mulamehic

Describe your idea. What will you do?

Empower residents to participate in e-forums/meetings and increase involvement and collaboration by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. Briefs from debates will be forwarded to the politicians/policy makers in order to provide a public feedback. Local councillors, safety neighbourhood team representatives, members of local business and other interested parties will be able to participate and discuss and find solutions to identified local problems.

What will the benefits be?

The project seeks to improve democracy and participation through:
(1) provision of new opportunities and ways to discuss public issues and make a positive impact on government policy making;
(2) reduction of poverty and isolation;
(3) development of new methods for engagement; and
(4) increased involvement of those groups and individuals who are hard to reach.

Who will you target?

Our target group is c. 868 residents/members of the Willow Tree Lane Residents Association. Of these, 333 are men, 353 children and young people under 19, 532 women, 24 older people over 60 and 281 BEM. We also have a significant number of disabled people but we currently do not have their exact numbers.

The estate is located in Yeading -- one of the most deprived areas in the UK

Is your idea linked to a particular town or region?

Yes. It is:

Willow Tree Lane Estate, Yeading, Hayes, Hillingdon, London.

What kind of assistance would you like from others?

To publicise the project we will use our existing contacts with Peabody Trust. This year we received their help with publicising our annual event 'Our Estate Goes Potty' with several articles appearing in housing publications, e.g. Inside Housing, Peabody Times etc.

Others would be consulted on the choice of topics for discussion or other general issues.