Get involved

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.

Engage with government

Respond to consultations

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.

99
Open consultations
777
Closed consultations in the past 12 months

Closing today

  1. Doing, supporting and using public health research

Start a petition

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.

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:

Take part

Volunteers working in a garden

Volunteer

Find out how to volunteer in your local community and give your time to help others.

NCS volunteers camping. Picture: National Citizen Service

National Citizen Service

NCS is for 16 and 17 year olds. Take part in social action projects and build skills for work and life.

An old building

Protect a local building

Use the Community Right to Bid to mark out local buildings or land as valuable to your community.

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Help run a charity

Find out how you could help run a charity by volunteering as a charity trustee.

Aerial view of houses

Make a neighbourhood plan

Have a say in development in your area by joining a neighbourhood planning group, or starting one of your own.

Headshots of 6 councillors

Become a councillor

All councils are led by democratically elected councillors who set the vision and direction, and represent their local community.

More ways to take part

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:

  1. Making it easier to set up and run a charity, social enterprise, or voluntary organisation

    • Cabinet Office
    • Community and society

  2. Improving the transparency and accountability of government and its services

    • Cabinet Office and Efficiency and Reform Group
    • Government efficiency, transparency and accountability

  3. Increasing the number of academies and free schools to create a better and more diverse school system

    • Department for Education
    • Schools

  4. Promoting social action: encouraging and enabling people to play a more active part in society

    • Cabinet Office
    • Community and society

  5. Transforming government services to make them more efficient and effective for users

    • Cabinet Office and Efficiency and Reform Group
    • Government efficiency, transparency and accountability

  6. Giving people more power over what happens in their neighbourhood

    • DCLG
    • Community and society

  7. Giving communities more power in planning local development

    • DCLG
    • Planning and building

  8. Promoting social action: encouraging and enabling people to play a more active part in society

    • CO
    • Community and society