Community Engagement Approaches and Best Practices for Age UK

This report discusses community engagement approaches and best practices for Age UK, a charitable institution that works for the well-being of aged people. It covers effective communication, active stakeholder participation, and inclusion in community engagement. The report also explores the process used to achieve best practices, including research, community mapping, and monitoring performance.

Community
engagement 2

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
Community engagement approaches...........................................................................................4
Effective and relationship of communication, active stakeholders participation and inclusion
in community engagement..........................................................................................................5
Process used to achieve best practices .......................................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERNCES:..................................................................................................................................9
Books and Journals:.....................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
The report has aim to present the clear understanding of community engagement and how
it can be achieve successfully. As community engagement is an important connector for the
society top live in the same place and share mutual values, culture and beliefs. It is essential to be
ready to provide help for the people which might result in improving their life. Community
engagement is an essential part of society which binds all the people together and live with peace
and prosperity. There are a lot of issues faced in society due to many crimes, internal affairs,
discrimination, illegal acts and many other consequences which laid down the focus on society
improvement and bring necessary development. Therefore, this report is going to discuss about
Age UK which is a charitable institution that works for the well being of aged people. It is going
to different that how these organisation differs in their vision and objective. Also, there will be
some effective community approach and process which is used to drive effective practice for
communication and maintaining relations.
MAIN BODY
TASK
Community engagement is all about putting concerns over the society and raise efforts to
make welfare. There are a lot of issues came across the organisation which require strategies,
policies and effective resources to drive solutions. Therefore, the stakeholders and volunteers
play vital role in solving issues across wide community and keep every member satisfied. There
are various roles and responsibility ascertain for the organisation which must be fulfil within
limited time (Saltmarsh,and Johnson, 2020). Different organisation work for different purpose
and objective in community participation. This would be understood by comparing two
organisation that are described below:
Age UK Right here Newham
This charitable institution was first founded in
2009. it was established for the purpose of
providing welfare to older age group who
seeks care, attention and love. The organisation
involve utmost efforts in order to provide them
This organization is work for the health
benefit of society people (Alonso, Decora. and
Bauer, 2019). Many people suffer from mental
disputes, depression, anxiety and other mental
health problems. These problems are mainly

resources, communicate them, Give
opportunity to raise their voice and launch
recreational programmes for fun and
entertainment (Cameron, nd FitzPatrick,
2021). These practices are perform by
volunteers and stakeholders who are the active
part of trust.
seen in young generation so the organisation
provide support throughout the treatment and
secure their life. Therefore, the organisation
provide assistance to make them live happy
irrespective of embarrassments.
The Age UK use different platforms to connect
with stakeholders and help seekers. They have
reputation across UK and build many
collaboration which help them to identify
issues. Also, the organisation use social media
platforms to create awareness and attract
general public for raising funds and charity.
The organisation provide home care services as
the treatment goes for longer duration (Jordaan,
nd Maharaj, 2018). They provide resources,
medicines and mental support to the youth for
overcoming with mental trauma. They Launch
several programmes related to yoga which
helps in great mental development.
Community engagement approaches
Community engagement must be support with best practice and approaches to achieve the
aims successfully. There are some relevant approaches which will help Age UK to involve better
decision in community engagement practices which are described below:
Community meetings: This is an effective approach for effective community
engagement. It is necessary to conduct often meetings in which there must be involvement of
stakeholders and volunteers (Papastavrou, 2019). This will helps in taking mutual decision and
prepare strategies for engaging communities. As in case of Age UK, the company must held
meetings and social media campaign which will be beneficial for taking new ideas and
understanding society needs. The Age UK have recently conducted meetings by seeing the
situation of pandemic that has lost ,any families and how they could provide better support to
more elders (Rickard, 2020). Whereas, the Right here Newhem has to involve community of
professional doctors and experts on the situation of patient so that, better treatment would be
suggested.

Focus groups: as per this approach, the organisation must need to focus on the limited
area of working. Focusing on smaller groups will lead to better resolving their problems
effectively. Age UK needs to adopt this approach to indulge stakeholders for different groups.
So that, they would provide better decision and carry out functions . This will eliminate the
situation of chaos. Limited group of people must be focused by limited volunteers and
stakeholders so that, they could control the activities as well as analyse the requirement of
necessary resources in Age UK. So that, the issues will be come out properly and company will
lead to gain better experience by focusing on smaller segments.
Therefore, Right here New hem has take the use of these approaches as they need to
focus on the most potential patient to provide mental treatment. They need to go down in deep
understanding about the actual problem of youth and find the relevant solution.
Web based engagement: this type of community approaches are vital to use web
services for engaging key people in the community services. Digital tools are taking growth in
society which influence on the use of internet (Kermish-Allen, Peterman, and Bevc, 2019). It is
the most effective approach for Age UK and Right Here Newhem to adopt technology and
engage practitioner who are interested in community programmes, ready to provide funds and
donation. Also, social media and web based challenges helps in finding help seekers which
would reach to organisation by seeing website blogs and campaigns. Therefore, right here
Newhem using this approach in an effective way by taking virtual sessions with patients to feel
them valued and asked.
Surveys: this approach is the traditional way of community engagement. Surveys helps
the organisation to get actual data about people and identify what problems are prevailing in the
society which are not yet disclosed. There are some issues and matter which does not raise in the
society due to security pressure, embarrassment and shame. So that, surveys are necessary which
are effectively use by Age UK (Sumida Huaman, and Mataira, 2019). As older people are not
much aware about these organisation so they could not find help easily. Age UK identify these
helps seekers and provide them assistance to engage stakeholders and community as well.
Effective and relationship of communication, active stakeholders participation and inclusion in
community engagement
Community engagement is itself the concept about looking towards forward approach to
make the society better. The effectiveness and well being of society are in hands of society well-

wishers which could be done through maintaining relations and communication. So that,
effective communication is must for active participation and inclusion of stakeholders to keep
them engaged for long time.
Effective communication: communication is the important key element in the
community engagement. It ascertain delivering of ideas and facts with each other and promote
inclusions. Communications will avoid any confusion and unnecessary issues. It is vital to
engage and influence others (Ross, and Stoecker, 2017). The communication must be
professional while talking with stakeholders so that, it would create positive impact on the
organisations. In order to present ideas and share values, motivate stakeholders and keep people
calm is all could be possible by effective communication. Age UK influence on effective
communication through using social media platforms which ascertain connection through
Facebook, Twitter and web channels. They also adopt different channels like radio and conduct
meetings for clearing out the information in terms of taking decision and promote social welfare.
Stakeholder participation: stakeholders are those people who are involved in all the
activities and functions of the organisation. These people are the key doer who take active
participation in engaging community members together (Marçal, and Macedo, 2017). Therefore,
they must be remain satisfied and stick to the goals and objectives. These could be employees,
volunteers, customers and other members connected with the community services. Organisations
like Age UK has much need of stakeholders to provide value assistance in the society who have
great sense of society values, emotions and care towards helpless people. The organisation has
their purpose to encourage involvement of these shareholders who could influence the society
with their skills and moral values. Age UK has these effective stakeholders who put their efforts
for the betterment of the lives of aged people. They provide them, a new experience of living by
working through heat for the society.
Practice of inclusion: The practices of inclusion is effective in order to involve community
participation. This involves mutual understanding over the function and practices perform by
Age UK (Murray, 2017). This shows that, all the functions must be performed under the interest
of all the people. So, one should take decision after the consent of others. It will help in
generating facts and understanding about the people and analyse the informations and facts. This
will maintain the relationship properly with the aim of community engagement. Therefore, it
contributes in involving stakeholders at their best of their efforts which will lead to achieve the

goals and objectives carefully for Age UK (Amayo 2018). As there are many decisions which are
required to take in group and requirement of community is required.
Process used to achieve best practices
Community engagement involves various procedures and process which is required to
involve community involvement and look for the welfare of society effectively. These process
are the systematic roadmap which will set a clear functioning to engage with community people.
These process for Age UK are described below:
Start with research: the first and foremost function of the community engagement is to
engage the people in the community. It is must to first start the research at the initial days it will
helps the stakeholders and volunteers to find the issues and problems by involving in the
community (Havrda, 2020). Research is the foremost function that must be carry out effectively
so that, actions and decisions would be taken out quickly. Age UK is required research in the
community through social media platforms, creating awareness and communicate with the
society to find out the cause of ineffective life of older people (Roberts, 2018). The Age UK has
any actions and rights of moving forward towards setting the life of aged people.
Community Mapping: community mapping is necessary to analyse the choices and needs
of community. It will be beneficial for the stakeholders to identify the choice and take the
decisions accordingly. So that, the organisation will use the resources effectively. people will be
satisfied with the community practices. Age UK analyse the requirements of older people as
every individuals is facing different problems which must be solved. This could be done through
divide the people in different segments so that, problems could be analyse properly and solution
will be effective.
Monitor performance: once all the research and community mapping will be done, it is
necessary to monitor the performance well (Malek, Carbone, and Alder, 2017). After providing
community welfare and stakeholders participation, it is require to monitor how all the practices is
being carried out. There is need to check whether the functions are performing as per the
research into the society. Monitoring will lead to show the improvement in the society and Age
UK will be able to achieve their mission to secure maximum life of aged people.

CONCLUSION
The report has concluded that, community engagement is the vital concept which must be
carried out effectively. Every organisation has their different function which creates difference in
their community practices. Therefore, There are many community approaches which are useful
to follow by organisation. The report has identified many practices and process to maintain
effective relations, communication and stakeholder participation.

REFERNCES:
Books and Journals:
Saltmarsh, J. and Johnson, M., 2020. Campus classification, identity, and change: The elective
Carnegie classification for community engagement. Journal of Higher Education
Outreach and Engagement, 24(3), pp.105-114.
Cameron, K. and FitzPatrick, J., 2021. Designing Lived Space: Community Engagement
Practices in Rooted AR. In Augmented and Mixed Reality for Communities (pp. 83-
102). CRC Press.
Rickard, S., 2020. Gender, agency and decision making in community engagement: Reflections
from Afghanistan’s Mes Aynak Mine. The Extractive Industries and Society, 7(2),
pp.435-445.
Kermish-Allen, R., Peterman, K. and Bevc, C., 2019. The utility of citizen science projects in K-
5 schools: measures of community engagement and student impacts. Cultural Studies of
Science Education, 14(3), pp.627-641.
Sumida Huaman, E. and Mataira, P., 2019. Beyond community engagement: centering research
through Indigenous epistemologies and peoplehood. AlterNative: An International
Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 15(3), pp.281-286.
Ross, J.A. and Stoecker, R., 2017. The emotional context of higher education community
engagement. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 9(2), p.2.
Amayo, M.C.K.G., 2018. Designing for Viable Futures Community Engagement as Social
Innovation. The handbook of communication engagement, p.301.
Roberts, K.J., 2018. Community engagement in Indian higher education: financial and
partnership trends. International Journal of Educational Development, 58, pp.95-105.
Malek, A., Carbone, F. and Alder, J., 2017. Community engagement, rural institutions and rural
tourism business in developing countries. Rural tourism and enterprise: Management,
marketing and sustainability, 145.
Havrda, M., 2020. Artificial intelligence’s role in community engagement within the democratic
process. International Journal of Community Well-Being, pp.1-5.
Murray, S., 2017. Creative Cardiff: Utilising cultural mapping for community engagement. City,
Culture and Society, 11, pp.4-11.

Marçal, H. and Macedo, R., 2017, September. From the periphery to the centre: Community
engagement and justice in conservation decision making. In ICOM-CC 18th Triennial
Conference Preprints (pp. 1905-1905). International Council of Museums (ICOM-CC).
Papastavrou, V., 2019. Community engagement in urban tree management decisions: the Bristol
case study. Arboricultural Journal, 41(2), pp.91-104.
Jordaan, M. and Maharaj, B.T.J., 2018, November. Promoting diversity in a community
engagement module for undergraduate engineering students. In 2018 World
Engineering Education Forum-Global Engineering Deans Council (WEEF-GEDC) (pp.
1-5). IEEE.
Alonso, L., Decora, L. and Bauer, U.E., 2019. Obesity and diabetes in the Winnebago Tribe of
Nebraska: from community engagement to action, 2014–2019. Preventing chronic
disease, 16.