Unheard voices: power and purposeful participation

Although groups can carry the very different identities of, for example, migrants, disabled people, older people, mental health service users and people in poverty, we tried not to label anybody as 'powerless' or 'vulnerable'. Rather, we concentrated on what we all share as 'people' – on the power that groups can have, the power they can share, the power that holds them back and the power that is often hidden and rests with others.

This programme has been directed throughout by a team of people with personal experiences of these different identities. The team has been looking at:

the possibilities of working across labels and identities; 

• the shared and different stories owned by people themselves; 
• evidence and examples of bringing about change (in our own lives, communities and movements); 
• approaches to developing and sharing power; 
• drawing together learning in ways that can be used and useful. 

Some of this work has been grounded in a project led by Carnegie UK Trust and co-funded by JRF on power analysis – providing one lens through which to make sense of power and participation. There are two published outputs from this work available from the Carnegie UK Trust website and via the hyperlinks below;

A practical guide for facilitating social change that uses ‘power analysis’ – sharing the learning from groups and organisations that used this approach;

A research report looking at how ‘power analysis’ can support groups and organisations to think about and increase their own power and influence.

We are currently finalising outputs (short reports, films) that draw together learning from across this and other programmes, as the issues of power, change and voice have been central to JRF work on Independent Living for example. Nine short films on power and care – filmed by independent and acclaimed film-maker David Hevey.