Why This Matters
The evidence for equitable engagement
Exclusion from decision-making is measurable, and so are its consequences.
Who gets heard
The Community Life Survey, the government's long-running study of civic engagement in England, consistently shows that people in more deprived areas, disabled people and some minority ethnic groups are less likely to take part in formal civic participation or feel able to influence local decisions.
Participation, place and mental wellbeing
Research published in 2022 linked civic participation and neighbourhood deprivation to mental wellbeing: taking part in community life is associated with better wellbeing, while living in a more deprived neighbourhood is associated with poorer outcomes. Engagement is not only about better decisions; it can support healthier communities.
Healthcare and research disparities
When services and studies are designed without the people most affected, gaps widen. Under-representation in health research and service design can lead to treatments, technologies and services that work less well for excluded groups.
The East of England picture
The East of England combines affluent areas with pockets of significant deprivation, large rural and coastal communities with limited transport and services, and growing, diverse urban populations. One-size-fits-all engagement misses many of these voices.