With the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the face of community engagement has changed significantly. But are you optimising your online community engagement efforts effectively?
The digital age has opened a myriad of opportunities to optimise community engagement. From virtual town hall meetings, online discussion forums to data-driven decision making, the possibilities are boundless. This digital transformation doesn't just bring us closer, but it strengthens our democratic processes, allowing for more transparency, inclusivity, and accessibility.
Since the Covid pandemic we have seen new cohorts of online users emerge. The elderly, for example, have become more connected than ever before.
However, the road to successful digital integration isn't without its challenges. Whether it's the digital divide, privacy concerns, or managing misinformation, it's essential to approach these challenges proactively to reap the benefits of online engagement.
Online communities have become more powerful and increasingly important, with nearly 80% of the UK’s adult population currently using a smartphone.
Local Councils need to make it as easy and interesting as possible for their communities to take time out in their busy, challenging lives to engage with them and when it comes to connecting with communities digitally, there are some new innovative online community consultation and engagement platforms out there to consider.
DAPTC has been in contact with GoCollaborate (based in the South West) who provide digital community engagement platforms to councils, community organisations and housing associations and their platform is being successfully used to reach, inform, and engage with wider audiences.
Unlike simplistic e-survey forms their platform offers an enhanced user experience, achieved by having the capability to host engaging visual imagery, maps, documents and information alongside survey questions, which are often grouped thematically. And, to increase community awareness and participation further, survey participants can take part in community online debates and share survey information with their social groups. All survey data and information is captured and summarised in the platforms’ performance dashboard, which can be accessed and acted upon at any time.
There is wide use of this type of innovative engagement platform, and it is increasing as many in our communities just don’t have the time to attend a town hall meeting or participatory workshop, such as families with young children, those with busy schedules or access difficulties.
GoCollaborate's online community engagement platform can help councils prepare and deliver successful neighbourhood development plans and community regeneration and sustainability projects. These platforms can also be used to engage with communities quickly on a variety of matters, including to assess the feasibility of project proposals, or, for gathering initial evidence to support business case submissions to access funding streams or public works loans, such as those available from the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and HM Treasury.
GoCollaborate builds online engagement platforms to meet their clients’ requirements and they provide consultation support along the way - their consultation platform and support packages start from £500.
For more information or to book a demonstration of GoCollaborate’s online community engagement platform please visit them at www.gocollaborate.co.uk or email at
Note – GoCollaborate is a commercial partner of NALC and more information can be found here: YouTube - What is GoCollaborate?
