Co-operative Engagement is Rochdale Borough's approach to working together to engage people and communities when a change is happening.
The Frame
A ‘Frame’ helps to begin the engagement process and provides a way to share information before embarking on work to inform, involve or collaborate with communities.
The 'Frame' should be your first step in outlining your topic, audience, engagement, resources and support.
Why not make use of our helpful template below to get you started? There is a PDF version and also on in Microsoft Word, just use what works for you!
The Frame Template [PDF] The Frame Template [Microsoft Word]
A step-by-step guide to getting started
There are three levels of engagement - Inform, Involve and Collaborate.
Inform
Inclusive messaging ensures that we are informing all parts of our communities in a way that is accessible to them. This can include engaging with communities about the message's language, format and content, or sharing messages via VCFSE communications channels and networks.
Involve
Where communities could have some influence over the Frame topic, involvement is about working with existing groups and networks to gain deeper insight into the challenge or proposed solution.
Working with existing groups and networks means that there are already strong relationships, roots in the community and trust. It is a quicker and easier way to reach people in the target audience for the topic.
Our 'Co-operative Engagement Spaces Guide' lists all of the networks, forums, spaces and groups where involvement could happen across the borough.
Collaborate
Collaboration is most appropriate where communities could have a high level of influence over the Frame topic and there is enough time and resources to support meaningful engagement.
Collaboration is about bringing together people with professional and lived experience of a challenge to understand the Frame topic from new perspectives, develop and test out ideas, and evaluate shared solutions.
Insight Capture
Whenever we engage, it is important to capture the insight and use this to inform future work and to feedback to communities the outcome of their involvement.
Why not make use of our helpful template below to get you started? There is a PDF version and also on in Microsoft Word, just use what works for you!
Insight Capture Template [PDF] Insight Capture Template [Microsoft Word]
Co-operative Engagement Spaces Guide
A guide to networks, forums and meaningful engagement opportunities between people, communities, services and the public sector across the Rochdale Borough.
This guide has been compiled by Action Together, with support from Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector and Public Sector partners. It details the shared spaces and places where ‘engagement’ can happen.
We are keen for our partners to use this table to plan engagement and would be happy to make introductions to any of the networks/groups mentioned below, please get in touch with us: info@actiontogether.org.uk to request an introduction.
Should you wish for your space to be added, or removed, from this directory, please get in touch with us at: info@actiontogether.org.uk
| VCFSE-led Networks : Various networks/forums/groups formed around interest, opportunity, place or need |
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Action Together thematic networks/forums cross-borough networks that bring VCFSE organisations together to share insight and take collective action to address the root causes of poverty and inequalities. You can find out more about our Thematic Networks HERE book onto Network Meetings HERE.
Wider VCFSE thematic networks/forums
Neighbourhood Networks
Wider VCFSE-led place-based forums/networks
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Citizen Engagement Opportunities |
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Citizen Engagement Groups and Spaces
Wider VCFSE Engagement Opportunities There are 1239 VCFSE organisations in Rochdale Borough. Community groups across our different townships in Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale and Pennines run regular events and groups which could welcome an opportunity to share their experiences or insight, for example:
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Cross System Networks and Partnership |
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There are a number of spaces and places that are led by Public Sector partners and include VCFSE sector organisations. These can be places to share information and consult with VCFSE organisations. Networks and partnerships include:
There are also networks, organisations and resources at Greater Manchester that the VCFSE in Rochdale are engaged with and can support Rochdale Borough working. Some of these include:
GM Equality Panels more info on panels HERE
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Information Sharing |
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Though ‘communications’ is mainly focused on information giving, engaging with VCFSE and communities about how information is given can help ensure that messages are received well and by the intended audience, achieving the intended outcome. Some methods set up to support this are:
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| Directories |
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Several VCFSE organisations and public sector partners in Rochdale have a directory of services, which signpost people to activities. Many of these are online and used by the general public and by frontline workers and support Social Prescribing services. Some of these include:
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How do people link and connect into VCFSE activity? |
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Word of mouth, social media, local newspapers, noticeboards, recommendations, and radio are always mentioned as ways VCFSE organisations connect with people, either as volunteers or as activity participants. As the importance of the role of the VCFSE, in supporting people’s health and wellbeing has been further appreciated, the number of roles and teams that link to VCFSE activity and refer or connect people to activity has also increased. These include:
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