Last week, Involve marked its 20th anniversary with an evening of lively discussions, reflections, and celebration. The event brought together a mix of advocates, partners, and members of the public to look back on the organisation’s achievements and consider the future of participatory democracy. Here’s a recap of the key moments from the evening.
Welcome and Opening Remarks by Ed Cox
The event began with a warm welcome from Ed Cox, Chair of Involve, who opened the evening by thanking everyone who has supported Involve’s work over the past two decades. Ed expressed deep gratitude to former and current staff, as well as to the partners and advocates who have contributed to Involve’s mission of building a more vibrant, participatory democracy.
A Glimpse of What’s to Come: Sarah Castell
Involve’s CEO, Sarah Castell, then provided a brief introduction to the evening’s agenda. Sarah set the stage for a night of shared learning and celebration, encouraging attendees to actively engage in the discussions to come.
Keynote: Tom Hayes MP
Tom Hayes MP delivered the evening’s first keynote speech, where he emphasised the government's commitment to participatory democracy. "This is a government that takes participatory democracy really seriously," he said.
This is a government that takes participatory democracy really seriously
Hayes reflected on his own experiences with Oxford’s Citizens' Assembly on Climate Change, sharing how the process moved those unwilling to speak to him while campaigning into engaged participants sitting around a table discussing the future of their towns: "By talking, you find the solutions, by learning, you innovate, and all of us together can build a better world. I feel very confident that organisations like Involve, people like you, and celebrations like this can really bring forward that better world."
Panel Discussion
Next we heard from panellists who provided a range of provocations and insights:
- Patrick Hurley MP spoke about the importance of public judgement in addressing society’s most pressing challenges. He highlighted how "it’s often the quietest voice in the room that makes the most thoughtful contribution," reinforcing the value of inclusive decision-making.
- Professor Geoff Mulgan, Involve's first chair, expressed mixed emotions. He celebrated Involve's resilience and growth but also shared his sadness that the need for participatory democracy remains so pressing today. He reflected on the deliberative wave that has arrived in the UK but noted that it still hasn't been fully integrated into the mainstream operations of government, a challenge for the next five to ten years.
- Dr. Dayo Eseonu, Involve trustee, brought attention to the ongoing challenges of power dynamics within participatory processes. She noted that even in mini-publics designed to reflect the population, minoritised groups often remain underrepresented, preventing their full lived experiences from shaping decisions.
- Professor Donna Hall shared her reflections virtually, drawing from her work on the Wigan Deal. She explained how anthropology played a key role in designing the deal, and how a focus on the individual can lead to better public services that consider the whole person, rather than siloed needs.
Participative Project Discussions
After the panel, attendees had the opportunity to explore some of Involve’s most impactful projects in smaller discussion groups. Participants could choose between conversations on projects such as the People's Plan for Nature, Jersey’s Citizens' Jury on Assisted Dying, Waltham Forest’s Citizens' Assembly on Neighbourhood Policing, Southampton’s Citizens' Climate Assembly, and MH:2K.
Each project discussion featured insights from commissioners as well as members of the public who had participated. Their personal stories and experiences, in some cases years later, showed the lasting impact of participation. Many participants had become advocates for these processes, providing powerful testimonies of their journeys. Many reflected on how moving it was to see members of the public becoming keen champions of their work and citizen-led decision-making more broadly.
Closing Remarks: Rich Wilson and Sarah Castell
The evening concluded with a keynote from Rich Wilson, Involve’s founder, who reflected on how far we’ve come in nurturing the appetite for democratic renewal. However, he posed an important question for the room to consider: "What do we need to achieve in the next ten years?"
Rich ended on a high note, reminding us that Involve is more than just an organisation—it’s an idea and a mission. He challenged everyone present to demonstrate that democracy is the solution to the challenges we face.
Democracy is the solution to the challenges we face
In the final moments of the evening, Involve CEO Sarah Castell returned to the stage to close the event. She offered three reflections for the group to consider:
- Urgency: "This is the moment to change the minds of people in power and change the way we do democratic business in this country. We won’t get another chance — the autocrats are waiting in the wings."
- Equity: Sarah reminded the audience that much work remains to ensure all voices are included in the movement toward a participatory society.
- Solidarity: "It’s hard work, as we’ve heard tonight. But we’re all here, some of us have been on this journey for a long time, some are new to it, but we have the joy of one another in this mission."
The event was a fitting celebration of Involve’s achievements over the past 20 years, and a powerful reminder of the work still to be done. As we look to the future, the conversations and connections made during this anniversary event will continue to inspire and drive us forward.
You can find more from our 20th anniversary celebration, including interactive content and special blogs reflecting on our past here.