Register your Details
Register your contact details so we can send you our Sciencewise-ERC newsletters and other information about what might be happening in your area.
Sciencewise-ERC
The Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre will be supporting a number of new public dialogue projects in the UK over the next twelve months and all of these will need people to volunteer to take part.
You can find out about these by keeping an eye on the website for details about up and coming areas of policy that the Government wants to seek the public’s views on, and for details of new Sciencewise projects requiring volunteers.
DirectGov
The best way to start is to get familiar with how Government works. DirectGov is the website of the UK government providing information and online services for the public. It provides information from across government departments and elsewhere on topics ranging from completing your driving test and parental leave to finding a job or a local NHS service.
Public consultations
Consultation is a technique of social interaction where opinions of all stakeholders are sought before a decision is made. Consultations about Government policy are frequently carried out in the UK. BERR has issued a code of practise for these consultations. The Code sets out the Government’s general policy on formal, public, written consultation exercises.
Find out about local consultations
Find out about Central Government consultations
Read your local paper
Sciencewise-ERC focuses on public dialogue for national policy making – but there are lots of ways of having your say too in the decisions that affect local and regional communities. Many local authorities and other organisations organise public engagement activities and increasingly the Government is keen to delegate some local decision-making to local communities.
Organisations that manage dialogue projects also often advertise locally for participants or they contact community and other groups to find out if people are willing to take part in a particular area.
If you belong to a group that meets regularly, such as a sports or social club, you can ask the organisers to register as well so they can let their members know of any opportunities.
Ask the PM
The Prime Minister has launched a regular initiative, 'Ask the PM', where he will be responding to the most popular questions submitted by the YouTube community. You can ask the PM a question by submitting a video to the Number 10 channel on YouTube.
People & Participation
The Ministry of Justice is spearheading an initiative to help people get involved in local and regional decision-making called People & Participation Online. You can find out more about citizen empowerment and how to get involved by visiting www.peopleandparticipation.net and by going to the managing organisation’s website www.involve.org.uk
