Youth voice
Youth Citizens Forum
Creates space for young citizens to shape education, skills, technology, jobs, safety and the future of their communities.
A&C Citizen Participation
Listen • Organise • Advise • Account
Citizen Forums
Every voice belongs in the room.
Citizen forums create organised spaces where experience, knowledge and community priorities can shape programmes, public positions and accountable action.
Four organised voices
Different experiences. One citizens-first movement.
Each forum focuses on a distinct contribution while working with wards, volunteers and public representatives.
Dignity & care
Elderly Citizens Forum
Brings forward the needs, experience and dignity of older citizens, including care, safety, health and access to services.
Experience & guidance
Senior Citizens Forum
Contributes experienced civic leadership, community memory and guidance to local organisation and public accountability.
Skills for service
Professional Citizens Forum
Mobilises technical, legal, educational, health, business and other professional knowledge in service of citizens.
Inside a citizen forum
Dialogue must lead to a clear public purpose.
A forum is more than a discussion group. It identifies issues, gathers knowledge, develops recommendations, supports practical programmes and reports back to citizens.
See How Forums Fit
Citizens speak. Structures listen.
Participation becomes meaningful when ideas can move into organised action and accountable representation.
The forum method
From a citizen concern to organised action.
A transparent process helps every participant understand what happens after an issue is raised.
01
Bring the issue
Citizens identify a concern, idea or opportunity that requires organised attention.
02
Hear every voice
The forum creates a respectful space for facts, lived experience and different views.
03
Develop a position
Members agree on recommendations, responsibilities and the result they want to see.
04
Take it to action
The forum works with wards, volunteers and representatives to move the issue forward.
05
Report back
Progress and obstacles are communicated openly to participating citizens.
Participation standards
A forum must be open, respectful and useful.
These standards protect the democratic purpose of every A&C citizen forum.
Open Participation
Forums must be accessible to the citizens they are intended to serve.
Respectful Dialogue
Disagreement must never become intimidation, discrimination or humiliation.
Evidence & Experience
Recommendations should combine lived reality with useful information and expertise.
Citizen Mandate
Forums advise and organise, but remain accountable to citizens and the constitution.
Bring your voice, knowledge and experience.
Join A&C and contribute to the citizen forum that reflects your experience or area of service.