Government activity

Get Involved

Find out how you can engage with government directly, and take part locally, nationally or internationally.

Engage with government

You can give your views on new or changing government policies by responding to consultations. Government departments take these responses into consideration before making decisions.

Respond to consultations

Start a petition

You can create a petition to influence government and Parliament. If the petition gets at least 100,000 online signatures, it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

Follow a blog or social media channel

For an instant way to interact with government departments, try their social media streams. These are listed under 'Follow us' on the department's home page. As well as access to blogs, audio, video and more, you can comment, debate and rate.

See all government departments

Some active government blogs include

Take part

If you're 16 or 17 years old, you can take part in the National Citizen Service
If you work in the public sector, you may be able to set up a public service mutual.
Work colleagues watch a presentation
Free schools are independent, state-funded schools.
Teacher writing on a white board
You can help make your local area safer in a number of different ways.
Your community can get involved in making decisions about where new buildings should be built.
Man in a hardhat surveying a building
Your group could take over the running of a local service, if you could make improvements.
Girl reading in a library
Improve where you live by making sure your landlord provides what you need.
Man fitting a lock to a door
Use the Community Right to Bid to mark out local buildings or land as valuable to your community.
An old building
Meet your neighbours, celebrate an event or mark an occasion with a party.
Tug-of-war at a street party outside Number 10
Ways to help your area by supporting local businesses and services, and reclaiming underused space.
Disused building
Could you help set a school's direction and ensure that its budget is properly managed?
Teacher in a classroom
Local councils provide services to meet local needs and improve community wellbeing.
Aerial view of houses
Use 'community shares' to support and invest in local businesses.
Find out how you could help run a charity by volunteering as a charity trustee.
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Have a say in development in your area by joining a neighbourhood planning group, or starting one of your own.
Aerial view of houses
Find out how you can help support local libraries, including taking on ownership and management.
Girl reading in a library
All councils are led by democratically elected councillors who set the vision and direction, and represent their local community.
The outside of a town hall

More ways to take part

Many people are already volunteering, donating and contributing, both in the UK and abroad. If you'd like to join them, but dont know where to start, here's a list of suggestions