Get involved

Find out how you can engage with government directly, and take part locally, nationally or internationally.

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.

• 94: Open consultations
• 518: Closed consultations in the past 12 months

Closes tomorrow

1. Water quality: updating the public and private drinking water regulations

   • Read and respond

Recently opened

1. Proposed Control of Mercury (Enforcement) Regulations 2017

   • Defra, DH, , The Scottish Government, , and BEIS
   • Closes 21 November 2017
   • Read and respond

2. Improving the home buying and selling process: call for evidence

   • DCLG
   • Closes 17 December 2017
   • Read and respond

3. Waste electrical and electronic equipment: amending the 2013 UK regulations

   • Defra
   • Closes 8 December 2017
   • Read and respond

Search all consultations

Recent outcomes

1. Open access restriction at Holme Bird Observatory: how to comment

   • Natural England
   • Closed 4 September 2017
   • See the outcome

2. Telecoms price control appeals under section 193 of the Communications Act 2003

   • CMA
   • Closed 4 September 2017
   • See the outcome

3. Water supply and sewerage licensing: updating security and emergency measures directions

   • Defra
   • Closed 29 August 2017
   • See the outcome

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Start a petition

You can create a 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.

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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:

• History of Government
• Civil Service Quarterly
• FCO bloggers
• Government Digital Service
• Head of the Civil Service

Take part

Volunteer

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

National Citizen Service

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

Start a public service mutual

If you work in the public sector, you may be able to set up a public service mutual.

Set up a new school

Free schools are independent, state-funded schools.

Help make your neighbourhood a safer place

You can help make your local area safer in a number of different ways.

Decide where homes, shops and businesses should be built

Your community can get involved in making decisions about where new buildings should be built.

Challenge to run a local service

Your group could take over the running of a local service, if you could make improvements.

Improve your social housing

Improve where you live by making sure your landlord provides what you need.

Protect a local building

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

Organise a street party

Meet your neighbours, celebrate an event or mark an occasion with a party.

Take over a local pub, shop, or green space for the community

Ways to help your area by supporting local businesses and services, and reclaiming underused space.

Volunteer as a school governor

Could you help set a school's direction and ensure that its budget is properly managed?

Set up a town or parish council

Local councils provide services to meet local needs and improve community wellbeing.

Invest in local enterprises

Use 'community shares' to support and invest in local businesses.

Help run a charity

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

Make a neighbourhood plan

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

Create a community library

Find out how you can help support local libraries, including taking on ownership and management.

Become a councillor

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

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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:

• Join the International Citizen Service (18- to 25-year-olds)
• Take part in your local Neighbourhood Watch
• Make a donation to charity
• Link up with a school overseas