Identifying and responding to user needs is a key priority for Leicestershire Together. If we are to work together to deliver effective and efficient services to the communities of Leicestershire, we need to establish and understand the needs and priorities of our users. We are doing this through a variety of mechanisms, including Community Forums, Citizens Panels, Citizens Juries and Parish Plans.

We have developed a Leicestershire Together Engagement Framework, which identifies channels of engagement with the key communities in Leicestershire. We hope the Framework will act as a directory for service providers from all sectors, making it easier for everyone to access, understand and respond to the needs of our communities.

The County Council has worked with the 7 District Councils and Association of Local Councils to establish Community Forums across the County. These forums bring together the County, District and Parish Councillors for a particular area, along with representatives from other community organsiations and agencies. Visit the Community Forums pages to find out more.

Leicestershire Together has supported a series of Citizens Juries for young people, people with disabilities and people from black and minority ethnic communities.

In late 2002 the County Council formed Leicestershire's Voice, the Council's first Citizens Panel. The Panel is a good way of clarifying community priorities; reducing consultation overload and evaluating both how well we are providing services and how we can improve them. We are now recruiting new members to join the second Citizens' Panel. Follow the link to find out more…

Through the Leicestershire Rural Partnership, local partners have supported a programme of community engagement activity in rural areas, mainly through Parish Plans, but also including Planning for Real, service co-ordination events and visioning events.