Shaping the future through open conversations
By Phil Bixby Having done a large number of different public events – guided walkabouts in day and night, meetings, photography walks and events with local partners – we frequently get asked “how is this going to affect what actually happens?” Firstly, the Open draft brief we produced – which drew out the themes from … Read more
Last Tuesday we had our My Castle Gateway Challenges: Living Well with Water event. The aim was to look closely at the Living Well With Water section of the draft brief on this theme are work out areas for development. The flickr album of the event tells the story of the issues. As does our … Read more
By Phil Bixby and Helen Graham Last Saturday – as part of the Looking at Your City walk – we spoke to people spending time in various parts of York. We explored a variety of different types of public spaces in York – Museum Gardens, St Helen’s Square, St Sampson’s Square, Shambles Market food court … Read more
By Susan Major In Step 2 My Castle Gateway process we’re seeking to address key challenges that arise from our Draft Brief. The aim is to understand the issues better so we can refine the brief and openly address disagreements and tensions. Below is a blog by Susan Major who took part in our Public … Read more
By Gareth Wilce, Senior Communications Manager for Economy and Place, City of York Council Two brave groups of York residents stayed up past their bed-time one Wednesday in August for possibly the most different event of this very different approach to public engagement. For those of you who don’t know, My Castle Gateway … Read more
Phil Bixby and Helen Graham A crucial question raised by the My Castle Gateway process is how can all of the contributions – all the post its, social media posts, survey contributions, interviews and discussions during events – be made to count. To this question we have two response: yes, we will openly archive and … Read more
15th August, 6pm-8pm 2 Bishopthorpe Rd, York YO23 1JJ. Access information: there is a ramp available. Email Helen Graham, h.graham@leeds.ac.uk if you need flat level access. The Post It Notes are in – we know what matters and the kinds of things people want to be able to do in Castle Gateway – but now it … Read more
Before collaborating on My Castle Gateway project, Phil Bixby and Helen Graham worked together on My Future York. More than once they’ve been asked why use ‘my’ (rather than, say Your Future York or Our Future York). Here they discuss the various reasons and how ‘my’ signals the distinctive approach to engagement taken in the … Read more
Castle Gateway: Stories of Change 29th July, Eye of York From 9am We invite you to join us for a series of events – with something for all ages – to explore the Castle area of York it as it was, as it is now and to imagine it differently. The City of York Council … Read more
The My Castle Gateway team have come to work together in order to develop a new approach to public engagement drawing on their different experiences and perspectives. What we share is a recognition of the limits of conventional approaches to consultation and a desire to explore more open and sustained ways of involving people in … Read more