Harnessing public opinion to influence change
"Instead of preaching or blaming people, Our Life is there as a partner with people. Because it's not part of the NHS, it can do things differently." Mike Farrar, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation
Why Our Life does it
We think that public policy decisions are better when they are informed by public opinion.
Our Life helps individuals and organisations to work together to create, challenge or change the significant policies and business practices that have influence over people's lives.
Our Life's ability
We have the skills to harness public opinion through methods ranging from surveys and focus groups through to deliberative events like citizens juries.
Our Life's track record
By gathering public opinion, we have helped clients and citizens challenge current policy and business practices and have given residents the opportunity to shape the solutions. This work includes:
The Big Drink Debate - the largest ever survey of how people in the North West feel about alcohol; Mandatory code of practice surveys and postcards - garnering public and professional views on the Government's draft code of practice for alcohol retailers and on the broader impacts of current alcohol consumption; Product placement survey - poll of 1000 North West parents on the proposed introduction of junk food and alcohol product placement on TV; Talking Food: Taking Action - a region-wide deliberative engagement and empowerment exercise; Reaching Out - a North West survey of attitudes to health of harder to reach populations; The Cost of Alcohol: The Advocacy for a Minimum Price per Unit in the UK - the first independent in-depth study to reveal the views and misconceptions of the general public regarding the impact of a minimum pricing policy in combating alcohol-related harm in the UK. Working in partnership with Nottingham University, Our Life's involvement enabled a series of focus groups to take place in areas of the North West, making it the fullest and most in depth analysis of public opinion so far aiding policy makers in developing policy calibrated to public concerns.
