Participatory processes

The following processes describe a variety of ways for age friendly engagement, empowerment and spatial agency. Design processes can include ways of mapping and gathering knowledge about a given space, through to designs, interventions and urban actions in those spaces, by, with, and from older people.

Consultation enables participation. World Trade Organization from Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The focus group

A semi-structured form of interactive, qualitative research where a group of older people might be asked to talk about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes about a given place.

The community audit

A community-based process used to profile a local area or issue. Can help provide a more comprehensive baseline picture of a neighbourhood (mapping out both its needs as well as its experiences and assets) or can often focus in on a particular area of concern.

Walking alongside

Involves walking and talking with an older participant, urban user, inhabitant to elicit their experience of a given place or particular area of concern.

Further resources

If you would like to explore some of the concepts in more detail, the following resources are optional.

Alternative Age Friendly Handbook

Urban Age participation guideline/RIBA design toolkit

You can join this short course developed by RMIT academics that addresses inclusive citizen engagement in urban development.