Feasibility & Consultation
In regeneration the phrases ‘bottom up and top down’ can frequently be heard. The context of these phrases is important.
‘Bottom up’ is usually considered to be how regeneration should be designed and how the process should be administered and managed.
‘Top down’ is usually considered a poor or bad example of how the process of regeneration should be administered and managed.
The context refers to how the different tiers of government and the statutory and other stakeholders deliver regeneration and development within a particular community.
If it is 'bottom up' it is an inclusive approach which is good. It includes the community and the community will therefore had an opportunity to be involved in the process and as a result will 'buy into it'.
If it is ‘top down’ it is non inclusive which is of course bad. A community having no involvement and therefore ‘buy in’ is likely to be disjointed and therefore not part of the process taking place.
Feasibility & Consultation is an integral part of successful regeneration. If it is carried out poorly it will manifest itself into a poor project/initiative. Conversely, if done well it should positively support and enhance a project/initiative. Project progress and success therefore relies heavily on feasibility and consultative skills. So we must get it right.
Community Acorns can help you in your feasibility and consultation scenarios.
We could prepare a feasibility and consultation plan for you to implement and use in your community development work.
We could lead and/or support carrying out feasibility and consultative work in your community development work.
Positive benefits of good feasibility and consultative work include:
- Gain support and acceptance of/for the project/initiative from many sections of the community
- Avoid unpopular projects being implemented
- Increased success in your grant funding applications
- Increased project viability and longer term sustainability
- Increased chances and opportunities of project expansion and development as the community ‘buys into’ the project and ‘get behind it’.
- Overall, community development and therefore the social capital will develop within the particular community concerned.
To consult, or not to consult!?
So far we have spoken of why you should consult. Why would you not consult? Perhaps the project sponsor/leader may feel they know best, and that they know the community need the proposed project.
They may be right. However, just because a community may need or benefit from a project it doesn’t mean that the community will ‘buy in and get behind’ the proposal. The reasons for this may not be apparent or obvious. In the past the community may well have been made various promises that have not been delivered and may be cynical.
Armed perhaps with negative feedback and responses to your feasibility and consultative development proposals you still may have to implement your proposal – because it is the right thing to do. If you do implement the project/development any negatives around your proposals will stay negative unless you challenge the issues. Also, you may be surprised at who/what supporters you may have should you give them the right type of opportunities to become involved and participate.
Consultation and Feasibility has to be carried out. It doesn’t have to be rocket science and therefore take vast amounts of time and also perhaps money. You may not immediately like the responses you receive. You may come across ideas and responses that are better than yours and contribute to the project early on.
Negatives and positives – you will likely get these responses. You have to be strong, don’t take these responses personally and you have to seek ways to consider negatives and turn them into positive situations. Community Acorns can help in your community.