Participation is more than collecting a testimonial after a project has been designed. Describe who helped define the question, how their contribution influenced the work and what they can expect in return. Avoid treating communities as a single homogeneous voice.
Explain representation
State how participants were invited and whose views may be missing. Distinguish organisational representatives, service users and people excluded from services. Do not assume that one consultation speaks for everyone.
Describe influence, not only attendance
Show where participants could alter the question, the design or the interpretation. Record disagreements and the way decisions were made. Participation counts do not, by themselves, demonstrate shared decision-making.
Close the learning loop
Agree how findings will be returned in a useful language and format. Explain consent, attribution and the use of identifiable stories or photographs. Publish only information that may appropriately be made public.