Before the first planning meeting

Before you start designing invitations, some decisions need to have been made:

• Name of the assembly (e.g. Council Citizens’ Jury, Local Citizens’ Panel)

• The question should be short and snappy. Think of it as a news headline - it doesn’t tell the whole story, but invites you to read more.

• The remit which explains a bit more of what the assembly will be deliberating on, a couple of sentences. Again, you want to spark interest, so that people register.

• Accountability. One of the key reasons people don’t register is because they don’t think decision-makers will act on the recommendations. State upfront your commitment to act and who will be listening.

• Size. How large will the assembly be?

• Dates and times.

- Venue. It’s a good idea to have your venue booked before invites go out, as that can affect dates, times and accessibility.

• Remuneration. The more you pay, the more likely it is that people sign up, so you want to make it clear that you will be paying people for their time.