Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
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London Borough of Waltham Forest worked with Granicus’ Engagement HQ software on their project focussed on two existing strategy regeneration projects in Lea Bridge and Walthamstow.
Historically, the council used digital tools such as online surveys however these were often standalone and not integrated with the existing council website making them difficult to access. This has led to feedback from residents around ‘survey fatigue’ and not being able to easily keep up-to-date with planned changes in the area.
Piloting Engagement HQ Software enabled the council to bring a more robust engagement approach in addition to assessing how digital tools could improve the council’s approach to engagement. With a particular focus on engaging young people and those less likely to engage, their digital consultation ran alongside in-person events and aimed to create a fairer and more equal 15-minute neighbourhood and realise potential benefits of development and investment in the areas.
This piloted approach resulted in 17% more 18-24 year olds responding online to consultation compared to previous engagement in Lea Bridge, an increase in those aged 10 –22 years olds engaging via in-person engagement with 70% of these young people having never provided feedback as part of a Council consultation. Furthermore, double the percentage of people who identify as Asian/Asian British and Black/Black British responded online compared to previous engagement in Lea Bridge.
The findings from the pilot have enabled the council to evaluate the software for future use across the regeneration team and other council departments and understand how the council as a collective can improve outreach, with younger demographics and those less likely to engage.
If you would like a plain text version of the below reports please email the team.