Community Voice

ACT uses its work with communities to learn about their problems and needs.  Armed with this evidence it uses its contacts with a wide range of partners to make sure that these are widely understood and addressed.  Follow the links below to find out more about the range of solutions that we offer.

Advocacy and Representation

Throughout its 60 years, a key part of ACT's work has been as a broker between communities and the public bodies that serve them. The evidence that is gathered in the course of its work with communities is used to seek public strategies, policies and services that are more responsive to local needs.

ACT pursues its work as an advocate by actively participating in a wide variety of partnerships at local, County and regional level. These currently include:

  • Local Strategic Partnerships
  • Cumbria Strategic Partnership
  • North West Rural Affairs Forum
  • North West Rural Strategic Group
  • North West Infrastructure Partnership
  • And many more...

We also seek opportunities to lobby the elected members and officers of local authorities, public agencies and Government departments. Contact us to find out more about our work in advocacy and representation.

Evidence and Information

ACT uses evidence gathered through its community engagement activities to influence local and regional policy and decision making. Its purpose in doing this is to secure policy and service delivery that is more responsive to community needs.

ACT's key sources of evidence and information include:

  • Primary research projects
  • Collating evidence from community plans into a comprehensive database of local needs, priorities and actions
  • Analysing information and reporting to public sector partners and other service providers.

    We are currently working to make our evidence base more comprehensive and therefore both of greater value and more influential.

    Contact us to find out more about the evidence and information that we hold or visit our resources and publications section.