At Temple, we believe that community engagement is an essential component of effective social research, social value and policy development. It ensures that the voices of those most affected by social issues are heard and incorporated into decision-making processes. This is highlighted in our Temple Engagement Toolkit.
The Value of Our Community Engagement Approach:
- Building trust between researchers, policymakers, and communities
- Providing a contextual understanding of local issues and challenges
- Identifying community assets and resources for sustainable solutions
- Ensuring research questions and methods are culturally appropriate and relevant
- Facilitating the co-creation of solutions with community members
- Increasing the likelihood of successful implementation of programs and policies
Our Effective Community Engagement Techniques:
- Participatory action research involving community members as co-researchers
- Community advisory boards to guide project direction and implementation
- Public forums and town halls for open dialogue and idea sharing
- Digital engagement platforms for broader reach and accessibility
- Collaborative mapping exercises to visualise community perspectives
- Storytelling and narrative-based methods to capture lived experiences
- Asset-based community development focusing on community strengths
By combining rigorous social research methodologies with meaningful community engagement, we at Temple provide our clients with comprehensive, nuanced, and actionable insights. This approach not only enhances the quality of our work but also contributes to creating lasting positive change in the communities we serve.
