Reimagining disengagement: tools and resources for engaging the disengaged in making change

Political disengagement is rising in the UK, with declining turnout, eroding trust, and growing polarisation. Some groups, particularly young people and the economically disadvantaged, are especially disengaged. Alongside this is research suggesting some people may actively chose not to engage due to a lack of trust in politics, institutions, and those in power.

Reaching disengaged groups is essential for a healthy civic society – it allows for better policymaking and a healthier and more representative democracy. It also raises important questions about how we define and understand political engagement: does choosing not to vote, but taking part in a street protest or online campaign, still count as disengagement? To increase engagement, we first need to engage with those groups to get their feedback on the key issues and barriers to their participation. But how do we do that?

Join us for this online event, to get some practical insights into methods of engaging the disengaged in making change in politics, democracy and civil society, specifically aimed at policy makers and campaigning organisations. Find out about our FREE toolkit and how you can use it.

Aims of event:

• Lauch of the free ‘Engaging the disengaged’ toolkit
• Practical insights into engaging disengaged groups in making change in politics based on a range of current OU projects
• Enhanced insights for policymakers and campaigners.

When/where: Join us for the launch of the ‘Engaging the disengaged’ toolkit on 3rd June 2025, 12-1.30pm.

Who: The event will be led by The Open University’s Dr Donna Smith and Dr Dan Taylor, in conjunction with PolicyWISE and Open Societal Challenges.