National Principles for Public Engagement in Wales

Participation Cymru is pleased to announce the launch of the National Principles for Public Engagement in Wales, which were endorsed by the Welsh Assembly Government in March 2011. These principles are the culmination of a piece of work developed under the guidance of Participation Cymru's Advisory Panel and in consultation with you. We are particularly grateful to TPAS Cymru, a member of our advisory panel who played a prominent role in bringing these principles to fruition.

These are principles and NOT standards. They are an overarching set of principles aimed at Public Service organisations across all sectors in Wales. They aim to sit above any specific standards that you may already be using e.g. Standards for Children and Young People, Social Services Improvement Agency standards and are intended to compliment them. They aim to offer a consistent approach and good standard for public engagement across Wales.

If your organisation completes and returns a declaration of endorsement form to participationcymru@wcva.org.uk you have signed up to these principles and will use them as a guiding document in your public engagement work. A list of organisations who have endorsed the principles will sit on our website soon.

These principles have to be put into practice in order for them to have the positive impact on people that they are intended to have. All our training will be based on these principles and we will be holding special regional events in the Summer to promote 'Principles into Practice'. Dates and locations will be available soon. In the meantime if you have an event, AGM, conference that would offer an opportunity to promote these principles then a member of the Participation Cymru would be happy to help with a workshop or presentation. If we are unable to attend then a workshop outline and Power Point presentation can be shared with you to facilitate your own.

A formal launch will happen at Participation Cymru's All Wales Residential Network Event on the 9th - 10th June 2011.

Thank you to all of you who have contributed to this process and we hope that together we can continue to ensure good, effective and consistent engagement with the people of Wales.