Southeast and East Asian Women’s Association (SEEAWA) reached a total of 430 under-registered and under-represented Londoners through their grant project.
- 85% of survey respondents reported an increased understanding of the different tiers of government (e.g. local, regional, national) and an increased understanding the types of accepted forms of photo Voter ID.
- 81% of survey respondents reported an increased understanding of the who their elected representatives are and what they do.
SEEAWA delivered information workshops in partnership with Newham Chinese Association.
The workshops and resources were translated to Chinese by in-person interpreters, who ensured that participants could fully understand the content. It was the first time that many felt they had a clear explanation of how UK government structures work, their voting rights, and why civic participation matters.
Between the first and second events they delivered several information sessions. They found that participants began actively engaging in discussion, sharing concerns about local issues such as housing, transportation and safety. They also became aware that participants were more confident in engaging in democratic participation, for example by registering to vote and reaching out to their councillors.
They attributed the success of these workshops to the accessibility and comfort of holding these events in a familiar setting with trusted community leaders. They stated that the workshops demonstrate how intentional, inclusive engagement can help individuals overcome structural and emotional barriers to participation. They also show how embedding civic education within cultural and social contexts can significantly boost impact.
“This is a really great initiative! [We] learned a lot!” - O, Identity Unbound participant
“I am so grateful for all your support to our community, it truly made a big difference. More power!” - V, SEEAWA AGM participant