Involve
Involve is a UK charity at the intersection of research and practice in public participation. They work with governments, public institutions, and communities to design participation processes that actually influence decisions — as opposed to the tokenistic consultation that often passes for engagement.
Their work spans deliberative mini-publics (citizens' assemblies, juries), participatory budgeting, digital participation tools, and the policy frameworks needed to make participation systemic rather than ad hoc. They publish guides, case studies, and critical analysis that are useful both for practitioners running processes and for advocates making the case for better participation.
Involve occupies a thoughtful position in the field: supportive of participatory innovation but rigorous about the conditions under which it works and the ways it can be co-opted or superficialised.
Key people
- Sue Tibballs OBE — Chief Executive from April 2026. Previously CEO of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation and Women in Sport; former Chair of the Fawcett Society and 38 Degrees. OBE for services to sport (2014). (source)
Links
- Website: involve.org.uk
See also
History
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2003-01-01
Founded
Sourcing: High
Since 2003, we have been working with governments, parliaments, civil society, academics and members of the public to create, advocate for and deliver new forms of public participation that re-vitalise democracy, improve decision making, and enable people to shape the decisions that affect their lives.
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2017-09-01
Delivered the Citizens' Assembly on Brexit — 50 members over two weekends in Manchester
Sourcing: High
The Constitution Unit led the team that hosted the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit in September 2017. ... The project also had two partners: the Electoral Reform Society, which worked on impact and public engagement, and Involve, which worked on the delivery of the Assembly.
Assembly members met over two weekends in September 2017 and agreed recommendations on post-Brexit trade and immigration policy.
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2020-01-01
Ran Climate Assembly UK for six House of Commons select committees
Sourcing: High
The House of Commons contracted three organisations to run Climate Assembly UK on its behalf – The Involve Foundation (‘Involve’), Sortition Foundation, and mySociety.
Members met in central Birmingham from January to March 2020 and then online; outcomes were presented to the select committees in a report in September 2020.
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