Public Engagement (Previous Local Voice page)

Engagement with residents is crucial to understanding resident needs, expectations and experiences and ensuring their involvement in key decisions about Wirral.   

Historically there has been a range of consultations carried out by many organisations across Wirral. This page provides some of that historical context.

It can always be added to, so please share anything you think we could add to our collective knowledge - contact us at phintelligence@wirral.gov.uk 

Below we have presented the content by topic.

By Topic

Children, Young People and Families

Vaping: Insights from young people and professionals (November 2022)
The Qualitative Insight Team have spoken to young people (Year 7, Year 9, and Year 13 students) and professionals about vaping throughout their research engagements with local residents. The presentation above provides a snapshot of resident’s views and experiences around vaping.

Young People’s risk-taking behaviours and enablers/ barriers to accessing support and services: Qualitative Insights (Full Report) (January 2023)

Young people’s risk-taking behaviours and access to support: Qualitative study (Executive Summary) (January 2023)


Culture and Youth Culture (November 2019) (Full Report)

This report covers the 14th annual Youth Parliament held on 6th November 2019. Through a variety of forums including Wirral Youth Voice Group, Children in Care Council, Wirral Young People’s Action Group and the Wirral SEND Youth Voice, Wirral strives to ensure that through listening and being responsive to the needs of children and young people that their views are at the heart of our services. 

The Parliament fits into the Wirral Borough Council Children’s Services strategic approach to youth engagement and participation and the Young People’s Engagement and Participation Framework. It is a regular full council meeting.  However, it is a closed meeting and, as such, the minutes are not for public view.

Review of the Youth Offer (October 2019)
Full Report and Usage of Local Authority Funded Youth Provision

The Review of the Youth Offer aimed to understand what young people in Wirral need and want to support their development and help them to achieve the best possible outcomes. With this insight, Children's Services will review current provision and work collaboratively to design a Youth Offer which will be accessible and beneficial to all young people in the borough.

The review is focused on listening to what young people are telling us rather than making assumptions about what we think they want- they are the experts. The review is not just about youth clubs or leisure activities, it considers all aspects of young people’s lives, including: health & wellbeing; education, employment & learning; hobbies, activities & free time; youth voice & democracy; young people in their communities; and, advice, information and access. 

Wirral Voice of the Child Survey Results (2019)
Key Findings

SEND Youth Voice Conference: Pilgrim Street Arts Centre (February 2019) Summary Event Report (February 2019) 
This report outlines the detail of the SEND Youth Voice Conference held at Pilgrim Street Arts Centre on Friday 25th January 2019. This annual event affords Wirral’s SEND Youth Voice group the opportunity to be listened to with a view to professionals learning and leading their services to better support and meet the needs of these young people. Last year’s event acted as a catalyst for significant change and, as such, the SEND youth voice group were encouraged to share their views on their most problematic area, namely Safety. Not coincidentally the Under 16 group and the Over 16’s both chose Safety as the nominated topic for discussion at this year’s event.

Working age Adults

Drugs Use in Wirral: A Qualitative Study
This research was carried out by the Qualitative Insight Team in the Public Health Directorate at Wirral Council as requested by the Wirral Drugs Strategy Lead.

Left Un-Checked: Why Maternal Mental Health Matters (Healthwatch Wirral contributors)
Healthwatch Wirral were one of just 4 Local Healthwatchs to carry out the more in-depth interviews and qualitative work.

Sexual and Reproductive Health: Qualitative Insights (Full Report)
This research was carried out by the Qualitative Insight Team on behalf of the Public Health Team in Wirral Council to supplement the full Sexual and Reproductive Health JSNA (May 2023) produced by Wirral Intelligence Service (Public Health Intelligence Team).

Together All Are Able: understandings of health and wellbeing for people with learning disabilities and considerations for future research (Full Report) (December 2023) 

Together All Are Able: understandings of health and wellbeing for people with learning disabilities and considerations for future research (Easy Read) (December 2023)

Warm Hub Research Engagement (Executive  Summary) (November 2022)

GP Patient Survey - National Report 2022

Rapid evaluation of targeted work to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Wirral (August 2022) 

Public Voices and Views - Summary Report: December 2020

Revealing Reality - local residents and the nine panel discussions Summary Report and Full Report

In partnership with the research agency, Revealing Reality, Wirral Council have been trialling a new approach to engage with local residents, in the form of panel discussions. Nine panels, lasting two hours each, were hosted across Wirral’s neighbourhoods, and over 100 people were engaged in the process.

Wirral GP Survey Results 2019 GP Patient Survey

NHS England together with Ipsos MORI, have published the latest Official Statistics from the GP Patient Survey. The survey provides information on patients’ overall experience of primary care services and their overall experience of accessing these services.

Older People

Warm Hub Research Engagement (Executive  Summary) (November 2022)

GP Patient Survey - National Report 2022

Rapid evaluation of targeted work to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Wirral (August 2022)

Public Voices and Views - Summary Report: December 2020

  • summarises and links to qualitative resources to highlight a range of engagement with public, across UK and across groups relating to the topic or subject in question

  • could help understand local Wirral circumstances or be used to consider and compare similar impacts at that local level

  • includes local work, where it is undertaken and published, to consider impact and outcome

Revealing Reality - local residents and the nine panel discussions Summary Report and Full Report

In partnership with the research agency, Revealing Reality, Wirral Council have been trialling a new approach to engage with local residents, in the form of panel discussions. Nine panels, lasting two hours each, were hosted across Wirral’s neighbourhoods, and over 100 people were engaged in the process.

GP Patient Survey 2019

Health and Social Care

Experiences of PTSD and ADHD support on Wirral | Healthwatch Wirral
The purpose of this short report is to provide a unique snapshot of insight into how people who access Sole Survivor PTSD Support CIC Peer Support Groups feel around access to services, quality of care and treatment in relation to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); Through sharing real lived experiences, perspectives and perceived barriers to clinical support.

GP six-to-eight-week maternal postnatal consultation and mental health support for new parents
There is new NHS guidance, written in collaboration with the Royal College of GPs, asking family doctors to provide personalised postnatal care for the physical and mental health of new mothers, and to support them with family planning.

Healthwatch Wirral has played a pivotal role to contribute to the push for new guidance. This was done by gathering experiences of new birth givers here on Wirral & working alongside Healthwatch England. This project included local mapping, a survey, in depth qualitative interviews and meeting with services and agencies offered on Wirral.

Research shows mental health issues are widespread and of significant concern for new parents. Yet, the new mothers we interviewed faced substantial challenges in accessing mental health services. Healthwatch would like to thank local partners - WMO (Wirral Multi Cultural Organisation, Koala Northwest, Wirral Maternity Voices, and Wirral Mind for support with this work. Read the full report on Healthwatch England’s website


Together All Are Able: understandings of health and wellbeing for people with learning disabilities and considerations for future research (Full Report) (December 2023) 

Together All Are Able: understandings of health and wellbeing for people with learning disabilities and considerations for future research (Easy Read) (December 2023)

Warm Hub Research Engagement (Executive  Summary) (November 2022)

GP Patient Survey - National Report 2022

GP Patient Survey - 2019

Public Health and Health Protection

Cervical screening – Insight work - Cheshire and Merseyside and Lancashire and South Cumbria March 2024 - Work has been carried out nationally to understand the reasons why cervical screening rates are falling. However Leads responsible for commissioning the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in Cheshire and Merseyside and Lancashire and South Cumbria, were keen to hear directly from the local population about the reasons why they were not coming forward. We also wanted to gain their views on what could be done to support more people to come forward for their screen.

Drugs Use in Wirral: A Qualitative Study
This research was carried out by the Qualitative Insight Team in the Public Health Directorate at Wirral Council as requested by the Wirral Drugs Strategy Lead.

Vaping: Insights from young people and
professionals (November 2022)
The Qualitative Insight Team have spoken to young people (Year 7, Year 9, and Year 13 students) and professionals about vaping throughout their research engagements with local residents. The presentation above provides a snapshot of resident’s views and experiences around vaping.

Young People’s risk-taking behaviours and enablers/ barriers to accessing support and services: Qualitative Insights (Full Report) (January 2023)

Young people’s risk-taking behaviours and access to support: Qualitative study (Executive Summary) (January 2023)

Left Un-Checked: Why Maternal Mental Health Matters (Healthwatch Wirral contributors)
Healthwatch Wirral were one of just 4 Local Healthwatchs to carry out the more in-depth interviews and qualitative work.

Sexual and Reproductive Health: Qualitative Insights (Full Report)
This research was carried out by the Qualitative Insight Team on behalf of the Public Health Team in Wirral Council to supplement the full Sexual and Reproductive Health JSNA (May 2023) produced by Wirral Intelligence Service (Public Health Intelligence Team).

Rapid evaluation of targeted work to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Wirral (August 2022) 

Warm Hub Research Engagement (Executive  Summary) (November 2022)

Neighbourhoods

Wirral Neighbourhood Model Pilot: Qualitative Insights (January 2024)
The Qualitative Insight Team were asked to support the Wirral Neighbourhood Model (WNM) Pilot through gathering the voices of residents from the Birkenhead A and Wallasey C neighbourhood areas. Data collection for this project took place over an eight-week period between October and December 2023.