Engagement project evaluation

Distributed dialogue was a new deliberative methodology called distributed dialogue, being tested in Camden. This is a decentralised approach to deliberation with the aim to develop dispersed, ongoing and embedded discussions around a specific policy issue. In a distributed dialogue, spaces for deliberative discussions on a topic are organised by different organisations rather than one central organiser hosting all the discussions. The central organiser provides prompts for the discussions, but the groups organising each dialogue have control of who is involved. This means public engagement and deliberation can be in more places and reach more or different people, providing insight into different views of different types of groups. As there are many dialogues, it also aims to embed these discussions and have continuous engagement.

Icarus worked with the delivery partner Involve, and the client Camden Council, in a formative evaluation process. This involved designing and delivering an approach that enabled the client to learn and amend the methodology as the pilot progressed.