Civil society

How can civil society organisations engage with citizens?

Civic Activism in Northern Ireland

Many citizens are increasingly disillusioned with and disengaged from those who take decisions that affect their lives. Where they exist, too often opportunities to engage in decision making are uninviting and uninspiring. The VCSE sector has a unique role to play in amplifying the voices of citizens and holding government to account for its actions, and needs to challenge itself to engage ever more creatively with the public.

Involve and Demsoc provided mentorship to the Building Change Trust’s Civic Activism Programme, which supported Northern Irish VCSE organisations to pilot civic activism tools to involve citizens in decision-making processes.