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Barnet Council collaborated with Barnet TV, a local social enterprise, to launch a community vox pop initiative.
Between June and August 2023, a series of informal interviews were conducted with over 50 people (residents and service providers) in the borough. This led to the creation of 7 engagement videos which have collectively garnered over 400 views online. This pilot not only facilitated meaningful interactions with our residents but also provided us with a valuable opportunity to explore and experiment with new approaches to community engagement.
Engagement overview
We engaged people at four different locations and each engagement lasted approximately three hours. By using inclusive topics in our vox pop, we made it easy for people from diverse backgrounds to share their views. This enabled us to gather a range of ideas on building stronger, healthier, and more informed communities. These responses provided valuable insights into the relationship between individuality and community. This helped us better understand that different places have unique dynamics, and that even within the same area, people can have varying needs.
A recurring theme among both residents and service providers was the awareness of opportunities, or the lack thereof. Many residents mentioned their dependence on informal channels, like word of mouth, for information, emphasizing the value they place on in person interactions. Community events consistently stood out as a popular approach to bringing people together and raising awareness about available support services. These gatherings seem to cultivate a sense of togetherness, highlighting the lasting appeal of offline engagement in our digital age.
“I've just picked up about six or seven leaflets of things that I didn't even know existed, so I think things (events) like this if it's done on a quarterly basis or even on an annual basis, it's very good for the community. It gets the kids engaged, gets them off the streets…. Their parents as well are more aware and educated about different or different types of activities to do so I think it's a great thing and keep it going” – West Hendon Resident
Engagement Outcomes
Engagement with Seldom Heard Communities: We prioritised areas with residents less likely to participate in the usual engagement channels, such as resident forums.
Empowering Resident Voices: We adopted an informal engagement approach so that residents felt comfortable expressing their views. Recognising that some participants were uncomfortable appearing on camera, we provided alternative methods, such as voice recordings, to encourage participation.
Championing Community Engagement: This pilot offered a simple means of gathering residents' perspectives and its success encouraged other Council teams to collaborate with Barnet TV to enhance their own engagement activities.
Engagement of Council Staff and Partners: Collaborative efforts were undertaken with internal colleagues, Barnet TV, and partner organisations to create the engagement plan. This included determining the vox pop topics, engagement locations and ensuring accessibility.
Creation of Volunteering Opportunities: A Barnet Council employee volunteered at an engagement event and provided positive feedback. Volunteering is an area we intend to expand in the future.
Future Plans
The Community Vox Pop initiative has helped us experiment different methods to foster more engaged, informed, and empowered communities. We are committed to building upon these achievements to amplify diverse voices and share the learnings from creative engagement approaches. Maintaining the momentum is crucial and our ongoing collaboration with Barnet TV aims to secure the initiative's sustainability.
Barnet Council collaborated with Barnet TV, a local social enterprise, to launch a community vox pop initiative.
Between June and August 2023, a series of informal interviews were conducted with over 50 people (residents and service providers) in the borough. This led to the creation of 7 engagement videos which have collectively garnered over 400 views online. This pilot not only facilitated meaningful interactions with our residents but also provided us with a valuable opportunity to explore and experiment with new approaches to community engagement.
Engagement overview
We engaged people at four different locations and each engagement lasted approximately three hours. By using inclusive topics in our vox pop, we made it easy for people from diverse backgrounds to share their views. This enabled us to gather a range of ideas on building stronger, healthier, and more informed communities. These responses provided valuable insights into the relationship between individuality and community. This helped us better understand that different places have unique dynamics, and that even within the same area, people can have varying needs.
A recurring theme among both residents and service providers was the awareness of opportunities, or the lack thereof. Many residents mentioned their dependence on informal channels, like word of mouth, for information, emphasizing the value they place on in person interactions. Community events consistently stood out as a popular approach to bringing people together and raising awareness about available support services. These gatherings seem to cultivate a sense of togetherness, highlighting the lasting appeal of offline engagement in our digital age.
“I've just picked up about six or seven leaflets of things that I didn't even know existed, so I think things (events) like this if it's done on a quarterly basis or even on an annual basis, it's very good for the community. It gets the kids engaged, gets them off the streets…. Their parents as well are more aware and educated about different or different types of activities to do so I think it's a great thing and keep it going” – West Hendon Resident
Engagement Outcomes
Engagement with Seldom Heard Communities: We prioritised areas with residents less likely to participate in the usual engagement channels, such as resident forums.
Empowering Resident Voices: We adopted an informal engagement approach so that residents felt comfortable expressing their views. Recognising that some participants were uncomfortable appearing on camera, we provided alternative methods, such as voice recordings, to encourage participation.
Championing Community Engagement: This pilot offered a simple means of gathering residents' perspectives and its success encouraged other Council teams to collaborate with Barnet TV to enhance their own engagement activities.
Engagement of Council Staff and Partners: Collaborative efforts were undertaken with internal colleagues, Barnet TV, and partner organisations to create the engagement plan. This included determining the vox pop topics, engagement locations and ensuring accessibility.
Creation of Volunteering Opportunities: A Barnet Council employee volunteered at an engagement event and provided positive feedback. Volunteering is an area we intend to expand in the future.
Future Plans
The Community Vox Pop initiative has helped us experiment different methods to foster more engaged, informed, and empowered communities. We are committed to building upon these achievements to amplify diverse voices and share the learnings from creative engagement approaches. Maintaining the momentum is crucial and our ongoing collaboration with Barnet TV aims to secure the initiative's sustainability.
