SLCVO Blog 08 May

This week’s blog shares highlights from across the team alongside a deeper look at community profiling and engagement—key building blocks for strong, effective community projects. Whether you’re starting something new or improving an existing service, taking time to involve your community is essential.

Team Update

With the May Bank Holiday, election-related school closures, and Michelle taking some well-earned leave, it’s been a shorter week for the team.

Matt and Kal have been focusing on developing the next community hub, exploring ways to better connect with the Dunvegan and Duirinish communities to encourage attendance. Kal has been shaping the event itself, bringing his event planning experience to the team and approaching the session from the perspective of someone attending for the first time. He has already begun suggesting ideas and improvements that we likely wouldn’t have considered, and it’s clear his input is adding real value.

At the same time, Matt has been looking at how practical supports, such as help with shopping, preparing meals, and accessing prescriptions, can be strengthened through the local third sector. He is currently in discussions with several groups to explore how this support could be developed further.

As it has been a quieter week, Jo-Anne has been focusing on filing and setting up a new SharePoint system to better support the team’s internal working. She has also continued supporting a couple of groups with operational planning and chaired the Highland Community Health and Social Care Working Group. The group will soon launch a Highland-wide questionnaire to explore the development of a new network, with more information to follow shortly.

Following the Uig Community Trust engagement session that Jo-Anne presented at last week, we decided to focus this week’s blog on community profiling and engagement. More and more groups are looking to bring in external organisations to support this work, but often the most effective engagement is that which is led by the groups themselves, with support from partners, just as we saw with Uig and other recent community consultations.

Why Understanding Your Community Matters

If you’re starting a community project or developing an existing service, one of the most important steps is understanding your community. But what do we mean by “community”?

A community can be:

• Place-based (e.g. a town or village)

• Interest-based (e.g. carers, volunteers)

• Identity-based (e.g. age, culture, lived experience)

People often belong to multiple communities, so it’s important to think broadly about who you’re engaging with. Taking the time to truly understand your community helps you:

• Identify real needs—not just perceived ones

• Design services that people will actually use

• Build trust and local support

• Strengthen funding applications with clear evidence

Community profiling and engagement are part of an ongoing cycle of listening, responding, and adapting as your community evolves. It’s also important to recognise that not all engagement is the same—it happens at different levels. Being clear about where your work sits helps you choose the right approach and manage expectations.

• Inform – sharing information so people understand what is happening. There is no expectation for feedback, but it helps keep communities aware and up to date.

• Consult – asking people for their views, opinions, or feedback on a specific issue or proposal. Their input is considered but decision-making remains with the organisation.

• Involve – working directly with people throughout a process to ensure their views help shape outcomes. This creates more ongoing dialogue rather than one-off input.

• Collaborate – partnering with the community in decision-making, with shared responsibility and stronger influence over outcomes.

• Empower – placing decision-making in the hands of the community, giving people real control over what happens next.

When done well, engagement leads to:

• Better-designed services

• Increased trust and stronger relationships

• Greater community ownership

• More sustainable projects

• Improved wellbeing and inclusion

What is a Community Profile?

A community profile gives you a clear picture of the place and people you serve. Think of it as a starting point—a snapshot of your community that helps you make informed decisions.

A strong profile might include:

• Population, age, and demographics

• Local services and organisations

• Economic activity

• Community facilities and infrastructure

But data alone isn’t enough. A good community profile helps you spot trends, gaps, and opportunities for action.

Where to find data

Reliable sources include:

• Census data Home | Scotland's Census

• Deprivation indices SIMD (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation)

• Local authority and regional reports Skye, Lochalsh & W Ross - Highland Community Planning Partnership

• Community planning priorities Skye and Raasay Future (SARF)

• Local Place/Community Plans e.g. Local Place Plan - Broadford & Strath Community Company

• Interest Based Plans e.g.  Skye and Lochalsh Caring Communities Plan 2025-2030

Getting started

Don’t overcomplicate it. Start with:

• A basic summary of your area

• Key statistics

• What you already know from experience

You can always build and refine your profile over time.

Community Profiles from Lochalsh

Excellent examples of community profiles can be found on the Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust website. During an area-wide community consultation, local community councils carried out in-depth work to produce detailed profiles for each area. These were compiled by community council and trust members, along with other volunteers, across the seven community council areas of Lochalsh, and were published in CommUnity News during 2020–2021.

The profiles provide an important snapshot of baseline data, including information on community assets and organisations at that time. They draw on extensive local knowledge, contributed by volunteers with a deep understanding of their communities

View the Lochalsh community profiles here Lochalsh-local-area-profiles-FINAL.pdf

What is Community Engagement?

Community engagement is about one simple thing: listening to people.

It’s about giving individuals and groups the chance to share their views, ideas, and concerns, and taking those seriously. Done well, engagement helps you:

• Understand priorities

• Test ideas

• Build stronger services

• Create shared ownership of projects

But meaningful engagement isn’t accidental. It requires:

• Clear purpose

• Inclusive approaches

• Good communication

• A commitment to act on what you hear

When communities feel heard, they’re far more likely to get involved—and stay involved.

The National Standards for Community Engagement

The National Standards for Community Engagement are a set of good-practice principles that help you plan, deliver, and evaluate engagement. They are widely used across Scotland and provide a shared understanding of what good engagement looks like.

At their core, they help organisations:

• Build better relationships with communities

• Improve participation and inclusion

• Ensure engagement leads to real change

They are useful for everyone—from public bodies to community groups and local partnerships.

The 7 Standards – In Brief

The framework is based on seven key areas:

• Inclusion – Involve the people most affected

• Support – Remove barriers to taking part

• Planning – Be clear about your purpose

• Working Together – Build strong relationships

• Methods – Use the right engagement approaches

• Communication – Keep people informed

• Impact – Show how input made a difference

The National Standards are a good starting point because they help ensure community engagement is meaningful rather than a tick-box exercise. They guide organisations to listen properly, include a wider range of voices, and be clear about how community input influences decisions. By following them, engagement becomes more transparent, builds trust, and leads to better outcomes—such as stronger services, more effective projects, and lasting community support.

Find out more here: https://www.scdc.org.uk/what/national-standards/

Planning and Delivering Effective, Inclusive Community Engagement

Effective community engagement doesn’t happen by accident—it starts with good planning and a clear sense of purpose. Taking time at the outset helps ensure your engagement is meaningful, focused, and genuinely useful.

Before you begin, ask yourself a few key questions.

• What are you trying to achieve? You might be gathering ideas, testing a proposal, or working with people to make decisions together. Being clear about your goal will shape everything that follows.

• Who needs to be involved. Does your approach reflect the wider community, or are there specific groups you need to reach?

• How you will engage people. This includes choosing the right methods, understanding your available resources, and considering what will work best for your audience.

It’s also helpful to think about the level of engagement you’re aiming for—whether you are informing, consulting, involving, collaborating, or empowering people. Being realistic about your time, budget, and capacity will help you design something achievable and effective.

Just as important as planning is making sure your engagement is inclusive. Good engagement removes barriers and makes it easier for people to take part. Common barriers can include transport, childcare, digital access, language, or the timing of activities. If these aren’t addressed, some voices may be left out.

There are practical ways to make engagement more inclusive.

• Offering flexible times and locations

• Providing childcare or travel support

• Using clear, accessible language

• Combining online and face-to-face options

• Working with trusted local groups can help you connect with underrepresented communities.

Ultimately, inclusion isn’t an add-on—it’s essential. When engagement is well planned and accessible, it leads to better conversations, stronger relationships, and outcomes that truly reflect the needs and priorities of the community.

Methods of Engagement

Choosing the right method of engagement is key to reaching people effectively. There is no single “best” approach—the right method depends on your purpose, your audience, and the resources you have available.

Common engagement methods include:

• Surveys and questionnaires

• Public meetings

• Workshops or focus groups

• Community events

• Social media

• Informal conversations

Each has its strengths. Surveys are useful for gathering broad views quickly, while workshops allow for more in-depth discussion. Public meetings can help raise awareness and visibility, and events or informal conversations can reach wider or less formal audiences. In most cases, using a mix of methods works best, helping you engage a broader range of people in different ways.

Surveys can be a powerful tool—but only if they are well designed. The most effective surveys are short, clear, and relevant.

Top tips for success

• Start with a clear introduction explaining why responses matter

• Keep questions focused and easy to understand

• Use a mix of tick-box and open-ended questions

• Avoid leading questions

• Make participation optional and accessible

• Offer simple ways to return responses

• Always thank participants  

If your survey feels long or complicated, people are less likely to engage. Keep it simple and purposeful.

Digital engagement can also play an important role. Online tools are flexible, cost-effective, and can reach large numbers of people. However, they are not suitable for everyone. Not all community members have access to digital platforms or feel confident using them, so digital methods should complement rather than replace face-to-face engagement. A blended approach—combining online and in-person methods—is usually the most inclusive and effective.

Finally, it’s important to remember that good engagement is not just about the method—it’s about how you work with people. Key skills such as active listening, effective facilitation, and thoughtful questioning help create a positive and respectful environment. When people feel heard and valued, they are more likely to take part and contribute openly.

By matching your methods to your purpose and audience, and by approaching engagement with care and respect, you can create opportunities for meaningful participation and better outcomes.

Running Successful Public Meetings and Workshops

Public meetings can be a valuable way to bring people together, share information, and hear a range of views—but they are most effective when they are carefully planned and well facilitated. Without this, they can quickly become dominated by a few voices or feel unstructured and unproductive.

A good public meeting starts with a clear purpose. Be upfront about what the meeting is for—whether it’s to inform, gather feedback, or involve people in decision-making. This helps manage expectations and encourages more focused contributions. The format should also be simple and accessible, with clear timings, structured discussions, and opportunities for people to participate in different ways (for example, speaking, writing comments, or small group discussions).

Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment is essential. This means choosing an accessible venue, using plain language, and setting a positive tone where everyone feels comfortable contributing. Ground rules can help ensure respectful discussion, while a skilled, impartial facilitator can guide the conversation, manage time, and make sure all voices are heard—not just the most confident or vocal participants.

There are also practical steps that can improve attendance and participation.

• Sharing an agenda in advance helps people come prepared and understand what to expect.

• Offering support such as transport, childcare, or flexible timings can remove barriers that might otherwise prevent people from attending.

It’s also important to capture feedback clearly, through notes, visuals, or summaries, so participants know their contributions have been valued and recorded.

Workshops and focus groups offer a different but equally important approach. These smaller, more informal sessions are ideal when you want to explore issues in greater depth. They create space for detailed discussion, reflection, and open exchange of ideas, allowing participants to build on each other’s views and develop shared understanding. Techniques like small group work, activities, or facilitated discussions can help encourage participation and make the sessions more engaging.

Ultimately, the goal of any public meeting, workshop, or focus group is not just attendance—it’s meaningful participation. When people feel heard, respected, and able to contribute, engagement becomes more productive and leads to stronger, more informed outcomes.

Promoting Your Engagement Activities

Even the most thoughtfully planned engagement won’t succeed if people don’t know about it. Promotion is a vital part of any engagement process, helping you reach the right people and encourage participation. A clear and well-targeted approach can make the difference between low turnout and meaningful community involvement.

Key ways to promote your activity:

• Local media, such as newspapers and radio

• Posters and leaflets in community spaces

• Email networks and partner organisations

• Social media platforms and online groups

Top tips for effective promotion:

• Keep your messaging clear and easy to understand

• Use consistent language and visuals across channels

• Provide simple information on how to get involved

• Use a single contact point to build trust and recognition

• Focus on where your audience already is and meet them there

By promoting your engagement activities in the right places, with clear and consistent messaging, you are far more likely to reach a wider audience and encourage people to take part.

Strong promotion isn’t just about visibility—it’s about making it as easy as possible for people to understand, trust, and engage with your work.

Analysing and Sharing Your Findings

Once your engagement activity is complete, the next step is to make sense of what people have told you and ensure their input leads to action. Taking time to analyse, reflect, and share your findings is essential for transparent and meaningful engagement—it shows participants that their views have been heard and valued.

Key steps to follow:

• Analyse your findings by identifying key themes and patterns

• Summarise results in a clear and accessible way

• Include the purpose of the engagement and methods used

• Provide detailed insights, supported by relevant data

• Outline next steps and how findings will be used

• Reflect on what worked well and what could be improved

Top tips for reporting:

• Keep it clear, concise, and free from jargon

• Be honest and impartial in how results are presented

• Focus on the most important messages and insights

• Use visuals or summaries to make information easier to understand

Sharing your findings is just as important as gathering them, as it shows people their input has been heard and valued. Being open about the results, and clear about how feedback will influence decisions, helps close the loop, building trust and encouraging future participation.

Ultimately, engagement only has real value when it leads to action: shaping services, informing decisions, and guiding next steps. Keeping your community informed about what you heard, what you’re doing, and what will happen next strengthens transparency, accountability, and long-term relationships,

Uig Community Trust – Engagement for development planning for 2030 to 2040

Uig Community Trust is a community-led organisation working to acquire and manage assets on behalf of the local area, supporting sustainable development and improving opportunities for people living in Uig.

The trust is currently undertaking an extensive community engagement process to help shape its development plans for 2030–2040. This includes a wide-ranging survey designed to understand local needs now and into the future, ensuring that future projects are rooted in community priorities and supported by strong evidence when seeking funding and engaging with partners.

To reach as many people as possible, the trust has used a mix of methods, including online surveys, paper copies delivered to every household, in-person events, and informal conversations. Early signs are very positive, with a strong return rate on the survey and encouraging levels of community interest. A recent engagement event brought people together for open discussions on key issues, with great conversations taking place and new individuals stepping forward to get involved in reviewing ideas and helping take them forward.

The event also included contributions from other organisations, with Jo-Anne Ford from SLCVO sharing insights into the third sector across Skye and the role of development trusts, and Sylvia Jamieson Local Development Manager for Raasay Development Trust speaking about community-led projects and learning from their experience.

Overall, the process highlights a strong appetite within the community to shape its future together—demonstrating how inclusive and proactive engagement can build momentum, strengthen local leadership, and turn ideas into action.

You can follow Uig Community Trusts Journey on their website Community Trust | Uig Skye

Enhance Your Community Profiling and Engagement with SLCVO

Under our HTSI-funded services, SLCVO can support communities and groups to identify key issues, source evidence, and develop strong community profiles. We can also help you plan your engagement—choosing the best methods for your community—and act as a trusted partner to review surveys, shape questions, and sense-check your findings.

Alongside this, we also offer a range of enhanced services to take your work further.

What We Offer

• Community Engagement – designing and delivering surveys, events, and consultations that reflect local voices

• Analysis and Reporting – turning feedback into practical insights and clear recommendations

• Community Development Reports – bringing evidence together to guide future projects and decisions

SLCVO is rooted in Skye and Lochalsh, with strong local knowledge and trusted relationships. This means we can provide support that is tailored to our communities that is often offering a more relevant and effective alternative to external providers. Our approach is hands-on, flexible, and rooted in place—helping organisations move from ideas to action with confidence.

To find out more, contact Jo-Anne Ford, Chief Officer, for an informal chat about how SLCVO can support your work. jo.ford@slcvo.org.uk 01478 612921