NEWS & BLOGS

We hosted the Consultation Institute Coffee Morning on Thursday 8 October and there was a lively discussion about the correct format of consultation documents to ensure they are accessible and meet legal duties. We’ve gone away and done some extra research to produce this guidance for engagement and consultation practitioners. Let’s start with some basics, before summarising what various regulations and guidance say before giving you information that will help you make decisi

In the UK, 7.1 million adults read and write at or below the level of a nine-year-old and 43% of adults do not understand written health information – figures cited by NHS England’s Library and Knowledge Services team (PIF online). When you add stress, illness, digital barriers, and the complexity of our NHS system, even “simple” information can become unusable. Health literacy isn’t just about understanding leaflets – it’s also about whether people can navigate appointment s

Public sector and VCSE organisations are under increasing pressure to improve diversity in engagement, demonstrate defensible decision‑making, and show clear reasoning behind who they reach — and who they don’t. Equality‑led engagement planning offers a structured, evidence‑based way to use your data, identify priority groups, and design more intentional, inclusive engagement. This blog summarises our latest Learning Lab and introduces the Equality Planning Tool we’ve built t

I nearly missed this one. End Digital Poverty Week runs from 7 to 13 September, and it's the first time the Digital Poverty Alliance has expanded what used to be a single day into a full week. It marks their 25th anniversary too, and it brings government, industry and the third sector together to look at how digital exclusion shows up across education, employment, healthcare, finances and everyday access to services. At Open Voice Lab we talk a lot about doing digital better.

We’ve pulled together some information to support engagement professionals who need to understand what has happened with the updated EHRC Code of Practice, and how it may impact on the work you do with communities. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has now brought its updated Services Code of Practice into force (August 2026). This follows the 2025 Supreme Court ruling that “sex” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex, and the code sets out how organisatio

July is Disability Pride Month – a time when disabled people come together to share their experiences and start conversations. Here at Open Voice Lab, we are proud allies to people living with disabilities and want to help organisations make their engagement and communications accessible to more people. Disability Pride Month Disability Pride Month began in Boston in 1990 and has grown steadily since then into a global movement. A fun fact. The Disability Pride Flag was desi

If people can’t access your communication, can they really engage? A reflection on accessibility, trust, and inclusive engagement practice.