Meaningful Engagement Session: What does meaningful engagement look like? - This consultation has now ended

Join us for the first of our Meaningful Engagement Sessions, where tenants will help shape how Newcastle City Council engages with and involves tenants in the future. Through a range of interactive activities and discussions, we'll explore what meaningful engagement looks like, identify barriers to involvement, and co-design future opportunities for tenant participation.

Meaningful Engagement Sessions are flexible opportunities for tenants to come together and discuss topics that matter to them. They provide a space for tenants to share their experiences, influence decisions, shape services, and work directly with council teams on areas of change and improvement. 

This first session focuses on tenant engagement itself. Before we can build meaningful opportunities for involvement, we want to hear from tenants about what good engagement looks like, what prevents people from getting involved, and how we can make participation easier, more inclusive, and more effective.

During the session, tenants will:
  • Explore the principles that should underpin tenant engagement.
  • Discuss barriers that may prevent tenants from getting involved and identify solutions.
  • Consider different engagement methods and how we can reach a wider range of tenants.
  • Share views on how difficult messages and service changes should be communicated.
  • Help define standards for clear, respectful, and accessible communication.
  • Explore how decisions are made and identify where tenants should have influence and oversight.
  • Prioritise ideas and improvements that should be taken forward.

The session will use a mixture of discussion, creative activities, group exercises, and prioritisation exercises to ensure everyone can contribute in a way that works for them. Feedback gathered will be used to develop Newcastle City Council's future approach to tenant engagement, with participants receiving feedback on how their input has been used.
Wards

Start Date

13 February 2026

End Date

13 February 2026

Days Remaining

0

Result

Thank You


Thank you to everyone who took part in our first Meaningful Engagement Session. Your ideas, experiences and feedback have helped us better understand what tenants want from engagement and involvement opportunities. The session generated valuable insight that is now helping to shape our future Tenant Engagement Plan and the way we involve tenants in decision-making. 

What We Heard


Good engagement starts with trust and transparency
Tenants told us that meaningful engagement is built on honesty, transparency and being listened to. Participants wanted clear information, regular updates and confidence that their views would be considered when decisions are made. Respect, accountability and follow-through were seen as essential. 

Engagement must be accessible and inclusive
Participants highlighted a range of barriers that can prevent people from getting involved, including lack of information, digital exclusion, language barriers, limited confidence, accessibility challenges and uncertainty about who to contact. Tenants felt engagement opportunities should be flexible and accessible to people with different needs and circumstances. 

Better communication is needed
Tenants wanted communication to be clear, timely and written in plain English. They felt it was important to receive updates even when there has been little progress and wanted realistic expectations about timescales. Participants also stressed the importance of respectful and sensitive communication, particularly when discussing difficult issues.

A variety of engagement methods should be available
Feedback showed that there is no single approach that works for everyone. Tenants supported a mix of face-to-face and digital engagement opportunities, including community events, local venues, social media, telephone contact and outreach activity in neighbourhoods. Participants also highlighted the importance of staff being visible and present within communities. 

Tenants want meaningful influence over decisions
Participants wanted clearer routes for tenant feedback to influence decision-making. They felt engagement should not stop at consultation and that tenants should receive feedback on what actions have been taken as a result of their involvement. Stronger accountability, clearer governance arrangements and regular feedback loops were identified as priorities. 

What Happens Next?


The feedback gathered through this session has been used to inform the development of our Tenant Engagement Plan, including engagement principles, communication standards, accessibility commitments and future opportunities for tenant influence. We will continue to share updates with involved tenants and demonstrate how their feedback is helping to shape our approach.



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