Deciding Matters
Our Work
Below you will find a list of our live and previous projects. For more information please contact the team.
University of Edinburgh: Old College Heritage Project
Live Project
Deciding Matters has been commissioned by University of Edinburgh to undertake a community engagement process to support the Old College Heritage and Values Project: a multi-year programme of work to review and update the artwork displays at Old College. The project will critically examine the artworks on display in ways that acknowledge both the lack of diversity represented in the portraiture, and the histories and contributions that are not visible in the celebrated heritage of this University building. A key part of the process will involve working with staff and student groups to engage with the artworks and the histories of the site through teaching, research, creative responses and consultation.
Scottish Government Council Tax Reform Engagement Workshops
2025-2026
We were commissioned by Scottish Government to deliver a series of public engagement workshops exploring and deliberating options for council tax reform. This work was in partnership with both Scottish Government and COSLA as part of the Programme of Engagement to support their shared commitment to long-term council tax reform. Deciding Matters engaged with over 100 members of the public through both online and in-person workshops, using innovative and engaging methods to collate views on ways to improve council tax. Report to be published late 2026.
Democracy Matters Local Democracy Review
2025
Deciding Matters worked alongside Scottish Government, COSLA, and the Democracy Matters Steering Group to deliver part of Democracy Matters, a key part of the Local Governance Review. Deciding Matters undertook a literature review to utilise existing best practice and research as the underpinning to innovative models of local democracy. These models were developed as part of a co-design approach, forming part of an evidence base for Scottish Government to progress this work. Outputs will be published Spring 2026.
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Tackling Stigma for Drugs and Alcohol in Scotland Co-design Process
2024-2025
We were commissioned by Scottish Government’s Drugs Policy Team to recruit a Design Team, comprising of people from across Scotland with lived experience, to take part in a year-long programme of co-design workshops. The group developed a national programme to tackle stigma which prevents people accessing support and treatment.
FIRNS Funded Community Inclusion Standard
2023-2025
We led a consortium of partners including Scottish Wildlife Trust, University of Strathclyde, Scottish Land Commission, Kana, Soil Association, and more, funded by NatureScot and National Lottery Heritage Fund (through FIRNS) aiming to embed community benefits into the UK nature market. Deciding Matters worked with sector experts to co-design a Best Practice Guide which formed the foundation of the new Community Benefit Certification which sits alongside existing frameworks, including the Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code as well as being incorporated into the ongoing BSI Flex framework.
Scottish AI Alliance: Citizens' Policy Panels
2025
We were commissioned by Scottish AI Alliance to support with the design and facilitation of public engagement workshops exploring the intersection of emerging AI and policy areas. We have supported the delivery of Citizens’ Policy Panels on Climate and Health.
Beaver Reintroduction Strathglass Community Consultation
2024
Commissioned by Trees for Life in partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland, Deciding Matters hosted a community consultation process identifying views towards a potential reintroduction of beavers in the Strathglass area. We supported the rural community to engage through a series of online, in-person, or phone interviews and hosted a community-wide workshop.
Lochgelly, Fife Facilities Local Engagement Workshops
2024
Fife Council commissioned Deciding Matters to host two deliberative workshops in October 2024 aimed specifically at the local community to develop recommendations for future town planning. The sessions were an opportunity for the local community, in particular, organisational stakeholders to directly inform Fife Council's approach to future town planning of Lochgelly in particular the use of town halls.
Police Scotland Training Package
2024
Deciding Matters was commissioned by Police Scotland to support them in developing a Community Engagement Training Package that can support officers across Scotland to design and deliver meaningful local engagement in different formats that suit their needs. The training package includes addressing ownership, outcomes, intent and power dynamics, managing conflicts and disagreements in the community, identifying engagement and recruitment methods that suit the needs of the community, framing the right questions that can lead to change, designing and delivering a workshop, working with partners, facilitating meaningful discussions and building consensus and other engagement methods.
Befriending Services Co-Design Workshops
2023
Commissioned by Befriending Networks to support Waltham Forest Council to develop a tender for befriending services in the borough through a co-design process. We hosted online sessions with professionals and in-person sessions with community members with lived experience to understand community needs and identify how a service could meet those needs.
Just Transition Business Sector Engagement
2023
Commissioned by the Energy and Climate Change Directorate, we hosted workshops both online and in-person across Scotland to engage with professionals in the Transport, Construction & Built Environment, and Land Use & Agriculture sectors. Participants reviewed the Just Transition Discussion Papers and shared expert insights on key policy areas identified. These outputs were part of the evidence base used for the development of Scotland's Climate Change Plan – 2026-2040.
Open Government Participation Framework Workshops
2023
Commissioned by Scottish Government’s Open Government team to bring the Participation Framework to targeted audiences: professionals in relevant sectors and individuals and groups who are often unheard or excluded from participatory processes. Delivering a series of in-person and online workshops with members of the public reviewing the Framework and identifying how to strengthen the content to ensure no groups are excluded from Scottish Government processes.