A little update from us....

We’ve been very quiet in the run up to the 2026 elections.. Now the noise has died down or at least the pre-election noise!) we think this is when the work should begin.

Elections are not the main focus of The Democracy Box. We’re more about the space in-between elections.

Our research shows that the current focus on elections is ironically making people disengage. We also know that a lack of basic democratic education is the primary barrier to democratic participation of any kind. Or as one person said to us –

“Why would you bother taking part in something you dont understand.”

Roughly half of the population in Wales eligible to vote do not turn out to vote in Welsh Parliament elections. This is not OK.

Focussing on just elections and voting rather than basic democratic education and information, conversation and deliberation is like asking someone to play a game of monolopy at Christmas without first telling them the rules and expecting them to participate and enjoy the game Then ignoring them for a few years and expecting them to want to talk to you and play that same game you never bothered to explain to them again 4 years later.

We need everyday democracy to be the focus and then interest, engagement and participation at the ballot box will follow. Horse before the cart so to speak.

The three Democracy Box prototypes were completed last year and all three are ready to be scaled. They are trialled and tested. They work. They each have a proof of concept. The Talking Shop trials recorded over 17,000 visits and 100% positive feedback.

The Democracy Box public information campaign is sitting ready and waiting. We would like to gift it to the BBC & Electoral Commission to upscale it for the benefit of all. We don’t want to commercialise it. It is a public good and needs public investment to be upscaled.

The Democracy Box Creative Cascade programme is ready for local authorities to roll out. Ideally with investment from the Welsh Government. It is tried and tested with over 15 schools.

The Talking Shop we are trying to upscale by pioneering the first long-term Talking Shop in Wales. We are in conversation with three local authorities. It needs multiple public bodies to come together to work in partnership to make it succeed.

We need all three prototypes to be upscaled.

We need everyone to understand how the democracy they live in actually works and how they can get their voices heard every day. Yes at the ballot box but in between elections too. This is all contained in The Democracy Box story.

1. We need that basic information shared in-person and via creative online content and both need to be co-created by people from the most disengaged and disenfranchised groups and communities. This is The Democracy Box Public Information Campaign

2. We need that basic information taught to teachers and teachers trained to know how to empower and equip all their students (aged 7-16) to be Democracy co-creators. This is The Democracy Box Creative Cascade Programme for schools.

3. We need that basic information available in-person. We need The Talking Shop in every local authority supported by The Talking Shop on Tour during the summer months and The Tiny Talking Shop all year round to create public spaces for democratic conversation, information and deliberation

If you'd like to chat email us at omidaze@outlook.com