Introducing the

Participation Toolkit

What is Participation?

Definition:

Participation: A way of enabling people to

participate in all the decisions that affect their

lives.and actions that

Participation

Participation is a way of working that empowers people

to get involved in decisions and actions that affect their

lives.

It is based on the conviction that people should have

the right to have a say in the way that services they use

are set up and run.

Benefits of Participation

The benefits can be far reaching for-

The person being involved

The practices of the organisation

Planners & policy makers

Communities – raising awareness, improving

perceptions of homelessness, correcting images &

dispelling myths and stereotypes

What to Avoid!

Tokenism

Consultation Fatigue

‘Professional’ Service Users

Lack of Appreciation

Fear

The Toolkit…

The Toolkit contains 25 suggested tools to help

facilitate participation presented in easy to use

Fact Sheets.

Each Fact Sheet contains an explanation of the

tool, lists the benefits, gives a ‘how to’ guide,

lists the advantages, disadvantages and states

the resources needed

Forums & Meeting

Supporting Volunteers

Service User Led Projects/Orgs

• The Galway Simon Community Board of Management.

Promotion of Toolkit by FEANTSA

Participation Working Group

Travelling

‘Local Stakeholders – city policy makers/social workers

Users of the services