Participation requests are a way that communities can ask to work with public bodies to make services better.

They're a part of the Community Empowerment Act.
 
If you make a Request, services are expected to agree to work with you if they can. If they can’t, then they have to tell you why.
 
 
Community groups can propose they get involved in helping to...
- Design new, or better, services,
- Improve existing services,
-Deliver services,
- Review services and contribute to decision making processes.  
 
 
You can be a formally constituted group or more informal than that. If you want to make a Request, you can also ask for help to do so.
 
 
 
To make a Request, you have to explain what improvements you would like. This should be the long-term changes you want to see.  
 
You must explain what you can bring to help improve the service. This can include your experience of the service you want to improve.  
 
The public body has to let you know if they are accepting your request, and when they will start working with you on improving the service.  
 
It’s not a guarantee of getting what you want but a way to have your ideas heard by people whose job it is to improve the service.  

 
 
A final report on the discussion will explain how your views were considered, what was agreed and how any improvements will be made.  

 
 
 
Conversations like this can lead to new ways of doing things.

They should help us think how community voices can help public services meet other community needs more effectively.