Programme summary

This programme – based on an underlying interest in participation and decision-making by citizens and users of services  -  aims to explore emerging and existing forms of governance at the local level: what is their likely impact on promoting citizenship and civic engagement, especially amongst disadvantaged communities and disadvantaged groups. The programme looks across a spectrum of public services and initiatives, rather than focusing on local government. 

A total of eight projects have been funded under this programme and the programme is now closed for future funding. However, the programme is very active in terms of ensuring the messages from the research are disseminated widely. Publication of the final five reports are expected in the first half of 2008. As well as gaining important learning from the findings from individual projects, we hope that the package of projects as a whole will provide a unique and new insight into community engagement in governance.

Policy and practice issues

There are a number of policy and practice questions the programme seeks to address through funding research and development projects, and promoting debate. These include:

• Service quality: what is the relationship between governance and service quality?
• Participation approaches: what instruments and methods can best able citizens to express their views and engage in local decision-making? Are some more suited to the needs of particular groups and communities?
• What are the routes and barriers to engagement in governance and how might the barriers be overcome?
• Who benefits?: does the value of engaging users and residents lie primarily in enhancing the quality of services, or in building the capacity of the community?
• Governors’ perspectives: what can we learn from the experiences of those already involved in governance structures with the NHS, schools, regeneration and voluntary sector organisations? What support, skills and resources do individuals and communities need to govern well?
• What role do paid officials play in community engagement in governance?
• What are the issues for community engagement in governance in dynamic and diverse communities?
• How does the dynamics of changing and new governance structures affect community participation and what good practice can be identified?

Recent publications

• Schools, governors and disadvantage in England, by Charlotte Dean, Alan Dyson, Frances Gallannaugh, Andy Howes and Carlo Raffo
• Active governance: The value added by community involvement in governance through local strategic partnerships, by Kath Maguire and Frances Truscott (Future Perspectives)
• Community Participation: who benefits?, by Paul Skidmore, Kirsten Bound, Hannah Lownsbrough (DEMOS)

Calls for proposals

Current open calls

There are currently no open calls.

Previous calls (now closed)

Details of some of the recent work we have funded may be available on the calls for proposals archive page.

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Work in progress

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Contact details

Louise Woodruff
Principal Policy and Public Affairs Manager
louise.woodruff@jrf.org.uk

Ellen Mooney
Secretary
ellen.mooney@jrf.org.uk
01904 615946