Consulting underrepresented audiences

Parliament engages with seldom-heard audiences to better understand the impact of issues and policies on people in Scotland. In this article, we look at Parliament's Participation and Communities Team (PACT) and their work engaging the public.

5 key lessons we've learned:

1. Tailor your approach – Effective engagement depends on understanding the audience’s needs and designing methods that work for them - whether through workshops, focus groups, or digital tools.
2. Partnerships are essential – Collaborating with external organisations helps identify the right participants and ensures that their voices are heard in a way that feels safe and supported.
3. Focus on lived experience – Real-world insights from those directly affected by policy decisions provide invaluable perspectives that help shape more informed outcomes.
4. Safeguarding – Always prioritise the safety and comfort of participants, especially when dealing with sensitive issues or vulnerable groups.
5. Continuous evaluation – Regular feedback and assessment help refine engagement strategies, ensuring ongoing improvement and more meaningful participation.

PACT: including underrepresented communities

The Participation and Communities Team (PACT) works to ensure that the Scottish Parliament’s committees hear from underrepresented voices. Originally focused on engaging community groups and the third sector, PACT now works with a wide range of underrepresented audiences - including businesses - to improve the quality of evidence considered by committees at Holyrood.

PACT’s staff ensures that committees hear directly from those affected by sensitive policy issues and working with the correct external partners, PACT ensures that real-life experience is gathered in a way that is safe, appropriate, and respectful.

Safeguarding is a key consideration, especially when working with vulnerable participants, and PACT provides support to ensure participants understand the parliamentary process and feel confident sharing their views.

Tailoring approach to engagement

PACT tailors its approach to the needs on each project. Depending on the context, this may involve in-person workshops, focus groups, online consultations, or community drop-ins. When engaging with children and young people, the team uses creative methods, such as arts and crafts, to gather their views in ways that are accessible and meaningful.

Partnerships are central to PACT’s work. By collaborating with well-connected bodies such as third-sector organisations and local business networks, PACT designs engagement strategies that are effective for the committee, and those they are engaging with.

Evaluation and continuous improvement

Evaluation is an integral part of PACT’s work. After each engagement project, PACT collects feedback from participants, MSPs, and parliamentary staff to assess both participation levels and the quality of insights gathered. This feedback informs future projects, helping PACT refine its methods and improve its outcomes.

Looking ahead

PACT continues to expand its use of deliberative democracy, such as Citizen Panels, to gather a broader range of perspectives for parliamentary committees. In the next parliamentary session, PACT will focus on integrating these practices more deeply into the Scottish Parliament’s work.

You can find out more about our work on this on the PACT webpage on The Scottish Parliament's website.

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