Improving resident engagement through Wirral People’s Panel: priorities, views, and opportunities for sustainable community involvement

Improving resident engagement through Wirral People’s Panel: priorities, views, and opportunities for sustainable community involvement

The Wirral People’s Panel aimed to improve engagement with residents who were not typically involved in council consultations. Nine panels were held across Wirral, facilitated by trained local residents, to explore community priorities and views. Over 100 participants shared perspectives on local issues, including environment, anti-social behaviour, gaps in support services, and economic decline. The project also sought to upskill facilitators and foster sustainable engagement. While the process successfully reached new voices, insights largely reinforced known issues, highlighting the need for more focused themes and stronger mechanisms for change in future initiatives.

Insights gathered: September 2020 - March 2021

Insights gathered by

Revealing Reality

Aim

The aim was to identify ways to improve engagement with residents outside usual consultation processes, understand their priorities, and build trust between the council and community. The project also sought to upskill local facilitators and create a foundation for sustainable engagement. Ultimately, it aimed to capture fresh perspectives on local issues and explore opportunities for shared responsibility in improving neighbourhoods.

People engaged with

Over 100 residents from nine Wirral neighbourhoods participated, including young people, unemployed individuals, business owners, and vulnerable adults. Panels aimed to reach those with limited prior engagement with the council, ensuring diversity in age, background, and experience.

Methods

Insights were gathered through nine panel discussions across Wirral, facilitated by trained local residents. Recruitment involved posters, social media, and community networks to reach individuals not previously consulted. Facilitators received training on recruitment and moderation, supported by researchers. Panels used group activities and focus group discussions to identify local priorities and explore attitudes toward community and council responsibilities. Analysis focused on recurring themes across panels, such as environment, anti-social behaviour, and gaps in services. While the approach successfully engaged new voices, findings largely echoed existing consultation insights, suggesting future panels should adopt more targeted themes and deeper probing for richer data.

Key insights

Across nine panels, residents expressed pride in Wirral’s natural beauty and community spirit but raised concerns about environmental issues, anti-social behaviour, and gaps in local support services. Economic decline and lack of investment in cultural events were recurring themes. Residents wanted stronger police presence and more activities for young people to reduce crime. Mental health services were perceived as inaccessible, and loneliness among older people was highlighted. Participants felt the council should take responsibility for improving local areas, while few considered their own role beyond reporting issues. Trust in the council was low, particularly in areas like New Ferry, where residents felt abandoned after the explosion. While the process reached previously unheard voices, insights were broad and largely reinforced known issues. Opportunities for improvement include focusing on specific themes, involving council representatives in panels, and creating clear mechanisms for change to build trust and shared responsibility.

Quotes

“You have to go to the place to find out what’s on there... and that means you know about that place anyway.”
Wallasey C panellist

How have the insights been used/shared?

Findings informed Wirral Council’s understanding of engagement gaps and highlighted the need for more inclusive consultation methods. The report identified opportunities for future improvements, such as focusing on specific themes, involving council representatives in panels, and fostering shared responsibility between council and community. Recommendations included creating feedback loops to demonstrate action on issues raised and supporting community-led initiatives. Insights have been shared with council teams to inform strategic planning and engagement frameworks.