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Volunteer
Find out how to volunteer in your local community and give your time to help others.
Find out how you can engage with government directly, and take part locally, nationally or internationally. You can also read policies about how government is increasing participation.
You can give your views on new or changing government policies by responding to consultations. Government departments take these responses into consideration before making decisions.
You can create an e–petition to influence government and Parliament. If the petition gets at least 100,000 online signatures, it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.
Find out how to volunteer in your local community and give your time to help others.
NCS is for 16 and 17 year olds. Take part in social action projects and build skills for work and life.
Community Organisers get training to help local people run projects in their area.
The Community First programme funds new and existing community groups.
If you work in the public sector, you may be able to set up a public service mutual.
Free schools are independent, state-funded schools.
You can help make your local area safer in a number of different ways.
Your community can get involved in making decisions about where new buildings should be built.
Your group could take over the running of a local service, if you could make improvements.
Improve where you live by making sure your landlord provides what you need.
Use the Community Right to Bid to mark out local buildings or land as valuable to your community.
Meet your neighbours, celebrate an event or mark an occasion with a party.
Ways to help your area by supporting local businesses and services, and reclaiming underused space.
Could you help set a school's direction and ensure that its budget is properly managed?
Local councils provide services to meet local needs and improve community wellbeing.
Use 'community shares' to support and invest in local businesses.
Find out how you could help run a charity by volunteering as a charity trustee.
Have a say in development in your area by joining a neighbourhood planning group, or starting one of your own.
Find out how you can help support local libraries, including taking on ownership and management.
All councils are led by democratically elected councillors who set the vision and direction, and represent their local community.
Many people are already volunteering, donating and contributing, both in the UK and abroad. If you’d like to join them, but don’t know where to start, here’s a list of suggestions:
The government wants to make it easier for people to be involved in decision–making. To find out what this means for you, take a look at the policies featured here:
Follow a blog or social media channel
For an instant way to interact with government departments, try their social media streams. These are listed under 'Follow us' on the department's home page. As well as access to blogs, audio, video and more, you can comment, debate and rate.
See all government departments
Some active government blogs include: