‘We need something that will give all local groups a chance to have their say in the mid term strategy review. It needs to be fun, stimulating and easy to do’ was roughly what the person from Friends of the Earth said to me. ‘…………and it needs to recognise the complexity of the issues under consideration’ (or something along those lines).
After I’d rambled on about the value of deliberative engagement we agreed the best idea might be a local group Discussion Kit. And so was born the Friends of the Earth mid term strategy review discussion kit (snappy title eh?). It seems to have worked.
The basic idea was that there are a number of contentious issues that the organisation (and many other campaigning organisations) are facing. The nature of such issues is extremely complex with a corresponding myriad of possible solutions for each issue. The ideal way forward is for each local group to host an evening workshop where all these issues are discussed. Invited to each workshop would be a long list of people with different opinions on how best to tackle each issue ( a kind of mini Citizens Jury), however this is obviously high infeasible. The Discussion Kit is a low cost alternative. Through a pack of cards each local group is able to self organise a discussion about the key issues. Different people’s opinions on the issues under consideration are represented on a series of cards which ‘players’ use, interrogate and talk through. They are encouraged to offer their own opinions, to challenge each other and talk through these different opinions. Ultimately they reach a conclusion which needn’t mean all are in agreement. This is recorded and the information returned to FoE HQ, so creating a rich picture of activist’s opinions through linked conversations. Here’s what some of the 41 local groups that took part thought of the hour long conversation.
The basic idea was that there are a number of contentious issues that the organisation (and many other campaigning organisations) are facing. The nature of such issues is extremely complex with a corresponding myriad of possible solutions for each issue. The ideal way forward is for each local group to host an evening workshop where all these issues are discussed. Invited to each workshop would be a long list of people with different opinions on how best to tackle each issue ( a kind of mini Citizens Jury), however this is obviously high infeasible. The Discussion Kit is a low cost alternative. Through a pack of cards each local group is able to self organise a discussion about the key issues. Different people’s opinions on the issues under consideration are represented on a series of cards which ‘players’ use, interrogate and talk through. They are encouraged to offer their own opinions, to challenge each other and talk through these different opinions. Ultimately they reach a conclusion which needn’t mean all are in agreement. This is recorded and the information returned to FoE HQ, so creating a rich picture of activist’s opinions through linked conversations. Here’s what some of the 41 local groups that took part thought of the hour long conversation.
‘I'd just like to say thank you for this kit! It's really given us a helpful, structured way to feed in, and also the chance to have more top-line/principles-based discussion which in the normal course of things we never make time for’.
‘Helpful in focusing our discussion; we had a lively meeting’
‘A novel technique for problem understanding. Potential for future use - it led to a good insight into our collective tasks’.
‘Excellent for facilitating discussions’
‘It helped to facilitate relevant and focussed discussion that rasied points that
we'll keep in mind for further discussion at a later date. Very useful tool’.
No comments:
Post a Comment