The words ‘civic’, ‘political’, and ‘public’ describe different ways you can participate and have a say on issues that you care about or problems that affect you:

• Civic participation means taking action to help your community or to improve society – for example, volunteering, fundraising, or working with others to solve a problem.
• Political participation is about influencing decisions made by the government or people in power. This includes voting, contacting your elected representatives, joining a political party or trade union, standing as a candidate, signing petitions, or taking part in protests.
• Public participation means giving your views and shaping decisions made by public bodies – like responding to a public consultation organised by your local authority or taking part in research that helps shape government policies.
• Working in the public sector, in a local council or hospital for instance, is another way to serve the community. Public sector workers must treat everyone fairly. When staff reflect the communities they serve, services often improve.

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