Uploaded on 2018-05-23 by Claire Moore

My own Citizen Design Project: Ultimately, ideas and adoption of a plan must come from local residents who need to be involved in the planning. Local buy-in is important: it creates energy, it lessens the possibility of protest and you are more likely to get volunteers to contribute to the project. My guidelines and approach would be: identify a project (for instance, reclamation of derelict sites with the idea of either guerrilla gardening or transforming the building into social housing). Start an online campaign, getting feedback about what local residents want to do with the space; collect data on ideas through online and postal surveys; create online discussion forums and voting tabs. Hold public meetings; appoint local residents to positions of chairperson and treasurer. Ask for volunteers or pro-bono work in terms of lawyers and accountants. Involve local council with outline of plans and invite them to a meeting. Contact charities and national government to source funds; look to crowdsourcing for funding. Involve the media to raise awareness and create energy and buzz. Have ‘community work days’ and create social events. Always involve, consult and make public what is happening to all involved parties.