Community Involvement
Involving local people in decisions that affect their lives is a key responsibility of the Community Planning Partnership.
By improving and embedding community engagement practice across the partnership we can ensure that our communities are genuinely engaged and empowered and can therefore be involved in decisions that affect their lives. By achieving a common understanding of community engagement at all levels of the partnership, coordinating and consolidating community engagement activity, and ensuring that staff and community members have the right tools to undertake engagement that is appropriate and fit for purpose, we can help to achieve active and empowered communities. We want to achieve better quality engagement that is effective and influential and informs decisions and service provision. Improving community engagement, and the structures, processes and practices that help deliver it will ultimately result in improved outcomes for our communities.
An Engaging Communities Toolkit (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window) was developed as a practical resource providing information and guidance on community engagement. It aims to support a range of individuals and groups in the planning and delivery of community engagement and more generally promote and improve community engagement practice in West Lothian.
Equality Forums
The Community Planning Partnership supports a number of equality forums, groups and networks which provide a platform for partners to gain an understanding of the diverse experiences of our communities and provide direct access to representatives of the protected characteristics for consultation and engagement purposes. Some groups are engaged in positive policy discussion whereas others have focused attention on community engagement activity.
- The West Lothian Community Race Forum promotes diversity and equality amongst all cultures and to highlight race equality issues. The forum was developed to promote and enhance understanding and awareness of race and race equality and to celebrate diversity in West Lothian. Contact Susan Gordon susan.gordon@westlothian.gov.uk for more information. Website West Lothian Community Race Forum
- The Faith Group brings together the different faiths in West Lothian to focus on common areas of concern and potential joint faith-related campaigns and policy inputs. The Faith Group launched a 'Faith Handbook' (PDF, 749 KB)(opens new window) in January 2015, highlighting the needs and influences of different faith traditions for local employers, members of the community and those delivering services locally, in order to create a deeper sense of understanding and enhanced engagement with faith groups in West Lothian. An Easy Read Version (PDF, 946 KB)(opens new window) of the Handbook has also been developed. Contact susan.gordon@westlothian.gov.uk for more information. Interfaith Scotland now have a dedicated page on their website dedicated to West Lothian's Faith Group (opens new window). This gives information on the groups remit, membership and meetings.
- The LGBT Glitter Canons youth Group is a supportive network for LGBT young people aged 12-25 years and also works to promote inclusion and to influence policy issues improving young peoples participation, wellbeing and life chances. Contact Jane Drysdale (opens new window) for further information.
- West Lothian Pride aims to bring the local and wider community together and our aim is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for LGBT Individuals, their friends, family and allies. The small community group lead by dedicated volunteers would like to hear from you, if you are an individual, group or business who in some way would like to help us continue, to make West Lothian Pride a success. Contact West Lothian Pride
- The West Lothian African Women's Network are a community-focused organisation that is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equal representation. Their mission is to inspire, empower and promote the voices of African/Ethnic Minority women and families in West Lothian, to help them thrive, develop their skills, and pursue their aspirations. Contact African Women's Network - Black Women Led Organisation
- West Lothian Disability Forum provides an opportunity for disabled people, unpaid carers and families, and services to understand the needs of disabled people across West Lothian. Engagement through the forum will also inform planning and delivery of services by working with West Lothian Health & Social Care partners, providers of support services and third sector organisations. Contact via Carers of West Lothian About CoWL
- West Lothian Access Committee is a sub group of Disability West Lothian, works across the private, public and third sector to remove physical and attitudinal barriers to equality, and to promote all aspects of independent living within the West Lothian community. Web address is www.disabilitywestlothian.org(opens new window) and email address is Administrator@disabilitywestlothian.org(opens new window). To contact by phone, 01506 774030 and text phone 01506 774044.
Web address is www.disabilitywestlothian.org (opens new window) and email address is Administrator@disabilitywestlothian.org (opens new window). To contact by phone, 01506 774030 and text phone 01506 774044.
Participation Requests are one part of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 is legislation that gives communities additional rights, through having more say in how public services are planned and provided; owning or leasing land, assets and estates; and becoming involved in improving the outcomes of services.
Participation requests are part of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. They are already a number of ways local people in West Lothian can get involved in decisions that affect their lives. Participation requests represent a new way that community groups can make a difference to their community and to have more say about services in West Lothian.
Before you start
A Participation Request Toolkit (PDF, 323 KB)(opens new window)has been developed by West Lothian Council to give more detailed information on what a participation request is, who can make a request and the process in general. We would strongly encourage community bodies to consider this Toolkit (PDF, 323 KB)(opens new window)and to discuss proposals with council officers before making a formal request. This will allow community groups to make sure that they are an eligible 'Community Participation Body', ensure they are applying to the right public body, find out if a joint application may be better, find out if joining existing processes may be more suitable and discuss any support and capacity needs. Please see the Toolkit for more information.
How to make a Participation Request
If you would like to submit a Participation Request, please complete theApplication Form (Word doc, 29 KB)(opens new window) and submit electronically to: community.planning@westlothian.gov.uk or by post to Community Planning Team, Community Planning & Regeneration, 1st Floor North, West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6FF.
The council's Community Planning and Regeneration team will be the 'gatekeepers' for requests to West Lothian Council. The team can be contacted at E: community.planning@westlothian.gov.uk, to discuss any potential request.
Groups can make a request to a number of public organisations. The Community Planning and Regeneration Team can direct you to the appropriate contact if you are looking to submit or discuss a request with another local public body.
West Lothian Council Participation Requests
West Lothian Council have produced Participation Annual Reports for 2017-18 (PDF, 197 KB)(opens new window) , 2018-19 (PDF, 278 KB)(opens new window) and the most recent report for 2019-20 (PDF, 436 KB)(opens new window).
Participation Requests Received
Submitted by: Bathgate Community Council (BCC)
Participation Request: Increased awareness within the Bathgate community of the council's roads policies and where the community can influence and improve existing policies through local involvement.
Decision Notice: Bathgate Community Council Participation Request Decision Notice (PDF, 304 KB)(opens new window)
Submitted by: Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Council
Participation Request: Request for a community council representative to become a member of the Local Area Committee.
Decision Notice: Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Participation Request Decision Notice (PDF, 293 KB)(opens new window)
Submitted by: Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Council
Participation Request: Request for representation on the Vennel project team and to contribute to the project briefing process to ensure the views of the community are taken into account.
Decision Notice: Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Participation Request Decision Notice (PDF, 310 KB)(opens new window)
Information & Support
For more information on participation requests and the Community Empowerment Act, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 315 KB)(opens new window)
Summary Guidance (opens new window) from the Scottish Centre for Community Development is available.
Guidance (opens new window) can also be found on the Scottish Governments website.
