Season 4, Episode 8 - Engaging Communities to Rebuild Trust

In this fireside chat, host Becky Hirst sits down with Dr. Wendy Sarkissian and Andrew Coulson to talk about this year’s Global Community Engagement Day (28 January) and the theme: Engaging Communities to Rebuild Trust.The conversation focuses on why trust matters in community engagement - how it’s been broken in many places and what we can do to rebuild it. Wendy shares stories from her years in participatory planning, highlighting the moments when trust was built and when it fell apart. She stresses that real engagement isn’t just about ticking a box—it’s about listening, being honest, and truly working with communities.Andrew brings a practical perspective, talking about how consistency and transparency are key to keeping trust strong. He shares examples of what happens when trust is lost - and how hard it can be to regain. Both guests agree that trust doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and a willingness to be upfront - even when the conversations are tough.Throughout the chat, Becky, Wendy, and Andrew give shoutouts to people and projects that have done engagement well, sharing ideas that others can learn from. They also discuss simple but powerful ways to build trust in communities, like setting clear expectations, involving diverse voices, and always following through on promises.The big takeaway? Trust is fragile but powerful. When we take engagement seriously and do it with integrity, it can bring people together, strengthen communities, and create real change.