Democracy is key to tackling the challenges we face, but it isn’t working as it should. If you believe, as we do, that a new type of democracy is needed, and that the UK is on the cusp of making this change — then a role on Involve’s Board of Trustees could be for you.
Our current chair, Ed Cox, is reaching the end of his term, as are several trustees, in 2025. We are looking for a new Chair and also two new Trustees immediately.
The challenges of the 21st century are so complex they need communities, individuals, politics, business and civil society working together to solve them. But our current politics doesn't work to achieve these kinds of outcomes. Decision-makers struggle to get things done. People are frustrated the system isn’t working for them. The large majority is left feeling divided, distrustful and powerless - and public trust in politics has collapsed.
Can you, like us, see a better way?
Involve leads the way in the UK in advocating and campaigning for deliberative democracy. We are passionate about the theory, but grounded in the practice - our knowledge is rooted in the daily design and delivery of deliberative and participatory processes. We train and mentor decision makers, so that they can use the transformative power of this work.
We know our work doesn’t solve every democratic problem. But these approaches, as part of our everyday decision making, help shape a new democracy. They represent new, better ways of wielding and sharing power and making decisions.
Would you like to join us and help us create and share a powerful remedy for democracy’s ills?
We are at a critical tipping point here in the UK. We see a significant opportunity to embed good practice into our government, at national, devolved and local levels, and make participatory and deliberative democracy a reality.
Our Board of Trustees has shown visionary leadership and helped the charity step up into a leadership role for the UK, and now there’s everything to play for.
Being chair of Involve as we have ridden the deliberative wave has been a joy and privilege. We have just celebrated 20 years — the organisation has come of age at the moment when democracies all over the world are creaking.
Now is the opportunity for a new chair and trustees to pick up the baton of change, and put new forms of participation and deliberation at the centre of democratic renewal.
Trust in democracy and government is under serious strain. Giving people more say over the decisions that affect them is a critical part of the solution and Involve is the UK's foremost charity working to make this a reality. Being a trustee is a fantastic way to help the organisation navigate the many strategic and operational choices along the winding road to fulfilling its mission.
Involve has been doing a great job of making public participation and deliberation a part of everyday life, particularly at a time when trust in political institutions are low. As a Trustee, I am helping the public to have their voices and priorities heard on a range of issues. With different viewpoints and skills sets on the board, I combine my expertise with others who are committed to making a real difference to our democracy and society at large.