Changing Lifestyles, Attitudes and Behaviour

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Changing Lifestyles, Attitudes and Behaviour

• September 2007
• Vincent OConnell
• Surrey County Council

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the basics

• Its about Behaviour change
• Its context is sustainable behaviour
• Funded by INTERREG IIIC programme
• Duration January 2005-December 2007
• Target audience Local authorities, other
  practitioner agencies, policy makers

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Starting Points

• Increasing interest in behavioural issues - not
  just related to environment
• We dont know enough about changing behaviour
• Many projects on sustainable consumption and
  production
• We dont measure things where is the evidence
  base?
• No systematic base of knowledge on how to
  influence lifestyles, attitudes and behaviour
  effectively

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Why ?

• There is little information on whether previous
  initiatives have actually changed behaviour and
  by how much
• Behaviour change strategies are often confined to
  particular sectors or specialities.
• Need to maximise the potential to use existing
  knowledge, encouraging transfer of experience
  not only between regions/countries, but also
  between sectors - transport, waste, water and
  energy

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What does

• It creates a Knowledge Base on existing
  experience of changing behaviour
• Over 150 relevant projects collected from partner
  regions and entered in a database with a focus on
  water, waste, energy and transport
• www.changelabproject.org

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What does

• It develops criteria for assessing successful
  projects
• The starting point for guidance around project
  planning

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What does

• It identifies and refines effective techniques
  with potential for transfer across sectors and to
  other target groups
• It develops a Technique Planner

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The Technique Planner

• ChangeLABs Technique Planner helps match a mix
  of 19 techniques to a particular target group.
• Based on a key principle
• Know your target group
• Plan actions from there

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What does

• It tests the techniques further through seven
  Pilot Actions in partner regions
• Based upon techniques successfully used elsewhere
  and adapted to local circumstances

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What does

• Planning for Success
• It devises a set of practical tools for local
  decision makers in authorities, organisations and
  agencies working on public participation
  initiatives guidance for practitioners

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Planning for SuccessThe project planning process

• What behaviour do you want to change?
• How do you know whether, and by how much, you
  have succeeded?
• agreeing an action plan
• successful implementation
• measuring success
• practical advice and tips

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Remember ..

• Change projects should be about enabling as well
  as engaging
• They should be joined up
• Project planning should take account of what is
  most likely to succeed
• in given circumstances,
• with particular target audiences