Get Involved: Participation Requests

Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

Participation Requests

Scottish Government is committed to supporting communities to do things for themselves, and to make their voices heard in the planning and delivery of services.  The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 helps to empower community bodies through the ownership or control of land and buildings, and by strengthening their voices in decisions about public services.

In particular, Part 3 of the Act relates to Participation Requests (PR) and Part 5 of the Act relates to Asset Transfer Requests. See below for further details:

What is a Participation Request?

Part 3 of the Community Empowerment Act 2015 enables communities to request to participate in decisions and processes which are aimed at improving outcomes.

Additional Information can be found within The Participation Request (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2017.

Participation requests enables communities to request to participate in decisions and processes which are aimed at improving outcomes.

You can find participation request guidance for both public service authorities and community bodies to use by clicking here.

Who can make a Participation Request?

In order to make a Participation Request, a community organisation does not have to be a legally constituted group, but it must be community-led and most of the members must be from the community.  Membership must be open to the whole community and the work of the group must be for the benefit of the community. The Scottish Government guidance describes in detail who can make a PR.

All PRs must be submitted in writing and include the details outlined here.

What happens when NHS Western Isles receives a Participation Request?

Once we receive a PR, we will log it and forward it to the appropriate Manager for assessment and response.

Asset Transfer

Part 5 of the Community Empowerment Act introduces a right for community bodies to make requests to all local authorities, Scottish Ministers and a range of public bodies for any land or buildings they feel they could make better use of. They can request ownership, lease or other rights as they wish.

• Additional Information on Asset Transfer can be found here.

Useful documents

• The Scottish Government final guidance on PRs can be found here.

What is a Participation Request?

A participation request enables communities to request to participate in decisions and processes which are aimed at improving outcomes.

Who can make a Participation Request?

A participation request must be made by a “community participation body”. Guidance issued by the Scottish Government gives fuller details of what constitutes a “community participation body".

Before making a request

If you are considering making a request, please contact us as early as possible to discuss your request. This will enable opportunities for existing participation to be identified and, where a participation request is subsequently submitted, help ensure that it is appropriate and focussed on improving outcomes.

Whilst initial discussion is encouraged, this does not replace your right to make a participation request without this.

Making a Participation Request

• Your request must be made on the standard Participation Request Form.

This also includes notes on how to complete the form. Completed requests and documentation can be posted to:

Patient Focus Public Involvement
Western Isles Hospital
Macaulay Road
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2AF

Additional guidance on Participation Requests is available from the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) at: www.scdc.org.uk

Acknowledgement

Once we are satisfied that all the required information has been provided, we will send you an acknowledgement which will include further details of the process.

The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 has been established to enhance community involvement in community planning by creating new opportunities for influencing public service provision and decision making including how community assets are owned and managed.

Who can make an Asset Transfer Request?

Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, introduces a right, for appropriately constituted community bodies, to make requests to all Local Authorities, Scottish Ministers and a wide ranging list of other public bodies (the relevant authorities), for any land or buildings they feel they could make better use of. They can request ownership, lease or other rights, as they wish. Formal guidance has been published by the Scottish Government and provides guidance for both the relevant authorities and community bodies.

Making an Asset Transfer Request

Regulations and guidance have now been published by Scottish Government to implement asset transfer under the Community Empowerment Act. This aspect of the legislation came into force on 23 January 2017.

View here (click on ‘Contracts Register')

Further Information

Further information can be found on the Scottish Government website.

View our current consultation and engagement

Public Meetings

• Attend NHS Western Isles Board Meetings
• Attend our Virtual Sessions 
• Attend our In Person Sessions 

Patient Focus & Public Involvement
Western Isles Hospital
Macaulay Road
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2AF

Telephone: 01851 704704 ext.2236

Email: denise.symington@nhs.scot

We know that our community in the Western Isles is extremely important to us all, and we want to make sure that patients and public are involved in helping us to improve our services throughout the Western Isles.

If you would like to register to become involved in any way, please complete and submit the form below. The information you provide will be held securely and will only be shared with health care staff who are, seeking your involvement and views and letting you know about opportunities to become involved in service delivery/change.  Click here to view our Data Protection information.