Following the conference, Mapping for Change contributed to a webinar aimed at district municipalities. This session provided practical guidance on stakeholder engagement and introduced tools to support participatory planning as districts prepare their applications for the Healthy Streets funding.

The webinar focused on fostering a multi-stakeholder approach, with Mapping for Change demonstrating how the Community Maps platform can help districts engage residents and visualise their ideas for sustainable urban development. In addition to the Community Maps tool, participants were introduced to other innovative solutions, including Design Clips for inclusive urban design and ISOCARP’s storytelling methodology to enhance citizen participation.

These tools are critical for helping districts create compelling proposals that incorporate public feedback, ensuring that the Healthy Streets projects will be inclusive, climate-neutral, and resilient.

Boasting more than 15 years of expertise in co-designing and executing projects spanning from local communities to global initiatives, our services are consistently customised to fulfill the requirements of our clients as well as their beneficiaries.  

We engage in co-designing and creating innovative participation initiatives, providing training and capacity building, crafting customized interactive maps, and collecting and visualising geospatial data tailored to diverse contexts, actors, and goals. 

Is your institution aiming to involve local community members or other actors in projects or events? We offer customised training and capacity building to equip you with the skills necessary for community outreach with diverse stakeholders. We can provide the tools and techniques to incorporate mapping into your engagement activities. Our expertise spans engagement training for various European organisations and research projects to public sector organisations, such as The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Community engagement is crucial for local authorities and other agencies because it promotes inclusive, accountable, and effective governance, builds trust, and empowers residents to participate in shaping their communities. By actively involving the community in decision-making and problem-solving, authorities can better address the unique needs and aspirations of their residents and create more resilient and vibrant local communities. We have experience in engaging communities around the UK, Europe and Africa on topics spanning air quality and odour pollution to heritage and perceptions of personal safety. Engagement can take the form of a community workshop or pop-up event through to a programme of regular activities to establish a network of community champions who could steer community-led initiatives. 

Facilitation is a critical component of effective group dynamics and plays a pivotal role in enhancing collaborative processes and achieving collective goals. It serves as a bridge between diverse perspectives and objectives, fostering meaningful dialogue and structured decision-making.

As facilitators, we provide a clear framework for discussions, enabling participants to explore complex topics systematically. This ensures that meetings and workshops remain focused and on-topic. We believe in active and inclusive participation and use innovative techniques to keep everyone engaged and where all voices are heard, promoting equity and diversity.  We carefully guide the decision-making process, helping groups reach well-informed and consensus-driven conclusions. Finally, we help distill key takeaways and action items, ensuring everyone leaves with a clear understanding of what's next.