Working with the council and other services brings opportunities—but also questions…
We’d like your insight on how consultation and engagement work in practice. For example: do you feel clear about how your contributions influence decisions? Are repeated requests for input sometimes hard to respond to, or difficult to see the impact of?
Engagement approaches may work differently for different groups. Faith organisations vary in size, structure, and capacity. Do factors like short notice, consultation formats, or accessibility of information make it easier or harder for you to take part?
Over the years, and particularly since Covid-19, partnership working between statutory services, faith groups, and the voluntary and community sector has continued to develop. THIFF plays a key role in representing the voice of faith, contributing to consultations and supporting dialogue with the council. At the same time, there is ongoing scope to reflect on how consistently faith groups, and the communities they serve, feel included and heard.
There are also positive developments. THIFF steering group members sit on several council boards and will be involved in the implementation and monitoring of the new Council VCS Strategy and its delivery plan, and Tower Hamlets CVS is hosting online sessions to inform its VCS Manifesto.
This leads us to ask: is this enough?
How do these developments feel in practice, and where might there be opportunities to strengthen engagement further?
Join us to have your say, network with others, and enjoy tea, coffee and biscuits.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984456804723