How do we build trust with communities?

What stood out most was that trust doesn’t start with a masterplan or a public consultation board. It starts with people - by listening and showing up in the right places. 

Here are a few of the key themes that came through: 
 

• Be honest from the start - transparency builds trust
   
• Start conversations early - and in the right places. That might mean turning up without a plan and just listening
   
• Engagement often attracts the same groups, but they don’t always represent the full community. We need to actively reach out to those who aren’t in the room - especially underrepresented and minority groups. 
   
• Getting residents involved in shaping places adds real value. It also takes time, clarity, and care in how we communicate
   
• Young people are the long-term users of our towns and cities, and their voices matter 
  
  We’re really grateful to our panel and everyone who joined us. The message was clear; developing with a conscience means putting people at the centre. 
  
  Thanks to Leah Stuart for hosting a great conversation, and the rest of the panel for sharing your voice, experience and opinion