Building Stronger Communities Through Collective Action: Insights from Voice4Change England's Workshop

Voice4Change England's "Your Voice, Your Democracy" workshop on 20 February 2025, brought together community members to explore ways of strengthening democratic participation and collective action. The event, held at the Osmani Trust in London, kicked off with a welcome from Kunle Olulode, Director of Voice4Change England. Dr Sharmin Shajahan, Deputy Director, then led an informative political literacy workshop, setting the stage for the day's discussions.

Key Discussions and Insights

The heart of the event was the group discussions, where attendees engaged in meaningful conversations about building stronger communities through collective action. Participants delved into crucial topics such as barriers to exercising democratic rights, strategies to increase voter participation from marginalised communities, local decision-making processes, mechanisms for engagement, civic participation beyond elections, and embedding democratic participation in the wider plans and delivery of civil society organisations.

Barriers to Democratic Participation 

Attendees identified several barriers to exercising democratic rights, including a lack of quality information and reliable sources, a disconnect between decision-making and grassroots needs, feelings of powerlessness and cynicism, procedural complexities, lack of time, priority, or knowledge, isolation, and trust issues. Discussions considered how to overcome these barriers and address the root causes of disillusionment and disengagement, such as rebuilding trust and ensuring that decision-making processes are more inclusive and feel responsive to community needs. 

Increasing Voter Participation in Marginalised Communities

To boost engagement, participants suggested various strategies. These included outreach in community spaces like faith venues and with Member of Parliament (MP) surgeries, engaging community leaders and role models, utilising social media and influencers, raising awareness among school-age children, investing in civic organisations to engage young people, and demonstrating tangible changes resulting from participation. By going to where the people are, rather than expecting them to come to you, and leveraging local councils to prioritise youth and other community policies, communities can foster a sense of ownership and responsibility in democratic processes.

Local Decision-Making Impact 

Discussions highlighted the importance of local decisions on issues such as mental health, housing, employment, education, cost of living, environment, and transport. Participants noted that how money is spent, and which organisations receive funding can significantly impact grassroots communities. Ensuring that funding and resources reach smaller, community-based groups rather than just larger organisations was identified as crucial for addressing root cause issues effectively.

Mechanisms for Engagement 

Attendees explored various ways to engage in local decision-making, including attending public meetings and MP surgeries, writing to local MPs, lobbying and campaigning, and utilising technology and social networks for connection. Promoting forums and ensuring that public meetings are widely publicised can help increase participation and make decision-making processes more transparent and accountable.

Civic Engagement Beyond Elections

Suggestions for broader civic participation included volunteering, signing petitions, participating in local government meetings, and joining community organisations. By engaging in these activities, individuals can contribute to their communities beyond election cycles and foster a culture of ongoing civic engagement. 

Supporting Civil Society Organisations

To embed democratic participation in civil society organizations, attendees proposed increased funding, partnerships with organisations working in the Democracy sector, creating forums for deliberation, ensuring direct funding to communities, promoting intergenerational collaboration, and working with councils to democratise funding panels. Rebuilding trust with young people and avoiding bias towards certain personalities and backgrounds are also essential for ensuring that civil society organisations truly represent and serve their communities.

Conclusion and Next Steps 

The event concluded with a presentation of next steps by Sharmin Shajahan, emphasising the importance of continued engagement and action. Participants were invited to provide feedback and volunteer for short video testimonials, further amplifying the impact of the workshop.

This event, funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) Democratic Participation grants programme, exemplifies Voice4Change England's commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive civil society that meets the needs of Black and Minoritised Ethnic (BME) communities. 

Looking Ahead 

Voice4Change England remains committed to empowering communities through collective action and fostering active participation in local decision-making. If you are interested in hosting a similar workshop in your community, we encourage you to reach out to us. Together, we can build a more vibrant and engaged civil society that truly represents the voices of all its members.

To learn more about how we can support your community, please visit our website at www.voice4change-england.org or contact us directly to discuss how we can bring this important work to your area. Let's work together to ensure that every voice is heard and valued in our democratic process.