Understanding community engagement

This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 11th February 2026

Community engagement is a way to ensure community knowledge, ideas, and experience are placed at the centre of decision-making - helping communities and public services to understand and take joint action to achieve positive change.

When done well, community engagement meets the expectations of the people involved, is well informed, properly planned, and makes sure people who may face additional barriers have an equal chance for their views to be heard.

SCDC's training offer can support community organisations to understand the role community engagement plays in their work. Focused on the key topics shaping this agenda, our training offer adapts to different levels of skills and confidence.

We can help you to take stock of your situation, discuss what training outcomes you’re looking to achieve and help make the most of the time and resources available.

Authoritative and value-led, this training brings together our knowledge of the developing empowerment policy environment, and a team of highly experienced facilitators to deliver engaging and participative sessions.

 
 
SCDC Weekly
What you need to know this week.

The SCDC Weekly gives you everything you need to know around community development and beyond.

It’s free, concise and delivered directly to your inbox every Wednesday.