Citizen participation is often low, but the desire to get things changed is rising. Public Square will explore how to increase democratic engagement beyond elections.

1. Public Square
Introducing…
TicTec Local 5 November 2018
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2. The underlying question...
• What do financially sustainable long-term participation models look like, that
work for citizens, communities, and local government (in multiple contexts)…
• ... And iteratively developing aspects of this in an open fashion

3. The Project Team
mySociety and Demsoc are pooling their resources and expertise on a
common project, bringing together;
○ Demsoc’s practical experience of participation and
deliberation, and supporting organisational development
and culture change
○ mySociety’s expertise in user research, civic tech, design
and digital agile development
Builds upon Luminate’s commitment to open government and civic
tech - supporting new forms of participation.
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5. The Project Team
mySociety and Demsoc are pooling their resources and expertise on a
common project, bringing together;
○ Demsoc’s practical experience of participation and
deliberation, and supporting organisational development
and culture change
○ mySociety’s expertise in user research, civic tech, design
and digital agile development
Builds upon Luminate’s commitment to open government and civic
tech - supporting new forms of participation.
5

6. The underlying question...
• What do financially sustainable long-term participation models look like, that
work for citizens, communities, and local government (in multiple contexts)…
• ... And iteratively developing aspects of this in an open fashion

7. Why Public Square?
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8. What is participation…?

9. But…
Is anybody listening?
Capacity is low
Embedding needs systemic
change
Disinformation
Empowering the powerful
● We are not seeing politics and
democracy transform in ways that
meet citizens expectations or provide
full benefits for decision-makers &
service providers. This is especially
true at a local level - where our most
immediate experience of democracy is
felt.
● Currently seeing lots of individual
small-scale pilots within single
councils. Results in fragmented
engagement (bad for citizens) and
duplicated effort (bad for councils)

10. Lots of existing tech.
Lots of gaps.
Little compatibility.

11. Hopes and
aspirations
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12. The end state
Connected digital tools from different providers
Cultures and processes changed in local public
services
Social and civic spaces connected into participation
Citizens able to engage in ongoing conversations

13. Our approach
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14. A whole bunch of questions
• How do we make participation work for those who lack skills, capacity and
confidence?
• How do we build two way trust?
• Can we have financially sustainable long-term participation models?
• Is there a social movement for democracy - between campaigning and one-
off engagement?
• Where will digital help and hurt in five years?
• What culture needs to change in government and politics? Can we do it
faster?
• What is the best way to join up efforts, ensure lessons are shared, and work
with councils to develop an open, common model for civic participation?

15. Our approach
Working with the wider community
• Reaching out to, and working with, the wider
community of local authorities, communities,
academics, civic tech organisations, and others
interested in improving participation, to develop
an understanding of common issues and needs.
• Use events, workshops and interviews with staff
and citizens, to develop ideas around common
needs and standards that might help councils.
• Feedback to citizens and councils on results of
user research, publication of user research
report on website tracking the project.
Working in the open
• To ensure appropriate critique and sense
checking and to draw in other contributors
with differing expertise
• Leaving a legacy of materials for others to
use - both councils and public sector
organisations looking to create new ways of
working internally, as well as market
providers who can use this to inform their
offer.
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16. Our 3 or 4 asks (for today….)
• Go to thepublicsquare.org.uk - sign up for the first event (19th Nov) and share
with others
• Sign up to the mailing list
• Support our research
• Talk to us - especially if you work in a council

17. thepublicsquare.org.uk
team@thepublicsquare.org.uk
@publicsquareuk