Strengthening Democracy Beyond the Ballot Box
London Democracy Week highlights the many ways Londoners can get involved in civic and democratic life, from hyper‑local neighbourhood initiatives to citywide and national participation. From volunteering as a magistrate, to participating in local projects, to responding to consultations and engaging with elected representatives.
Research from the Community Life Survey shows only 45% of Londoners took part in at least one civic activity over the past year. While that’s above the national average, it still means that fewer than half of Londoners actively participated.
Our goal is to ensure all Londoners have the confidence, awareness and opportunity to participate while removing the barriers that disproportionately affect under‑represented groups. Young people in particular remain less likely to be heard in decision‑making, making them central to this work.
And with voting rights for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds currently being debated in Parliament, it’s more important than ever that young Londoners understand how democracy works and how to get their voices heard.
What We Did
We worked with our community delivery partner, Shout Out UK, to develop co‑designed resources on civic and democratic participation, as well as key information on the upcoming local elections in London.
This included:
Static assets and short videos for social media
Print materials such as posters and flyers
Political literacy resources, supporting understanding of how decisions are made
To ensure accessibility and reach, our resource offer was available in 16 of London’s most widely spoken community languages, as well as British Sign Language (BSL).
Engagement across the city
Throughout the week, Shout Out UK and the GLA:
ran a digital campaign, supported and amplified by our coalition partners
delivered voter‑registration stalls, assemblies and workshops in nine educational institutions across London
engaged Londoners directly on their rights, their power, and the many ways they can take part in shaping the city
Shaping London Together: A Space for Collaboration
On Tuesday 10 March, we welcomed civil society organisations, funders and partners to City Hall for Shaping London Together, a day dedicated to reflection, connection and collaboration.
The GLA Community Engagement team and partners shared powerful examples of how participation is driving real change in London’s communities. Throughout the event, we explored some key questions:
How can we collectively support a stronger, more inclusive democracy in London?
How can we ensure community voices and lived experience insight informs meaningful, accessible programmes and projects across the GLA?
How do we embed engagement in civic life and democracy within our everyday work?
Several important themes emerged from our conversations:
Closing the feedback loop is essential - communities need to see how their contributions shape decisions.
Culturally relevant and sensitive messaging helps ensure communications resonate with London’s diverse communities.
Recognising the diversity within communities is vital; there is no one‑size‑fits‑all approach to engagement.
The importance of continuing to work with and for communities in collaboration with trusted voices and spaces.
Face‑to‑face interaction with young people remains crucial, particularly for meaningful dialogue and debate.
The event highlighted the incredible work already taking place across the capital and invited everyone in the room to imagine what more we can achieve together. People who joined us on the day formed new connections, exchanged lived experiences and learned from one another, capturing the spirit of the week: bringing people together to shape London’s future.
Your Voice Matters - All Year Round
Whether you're a community organiser, a young Londoner curious about how decisions get made, or someone simply wanting to get more involved - your voice shapes this city.
London Democracy Week may come once a year, but building a stronger, more inclusive London democracy is something we can do together, every day.
If you have any feedback about London Democracy Week, the Shaping London Together event, or would like to find out more about our work, please get in touch at [email protected]