Jury for Joy is the long-term citizens’ jury in West Cumbria focusing on art and creativity, and is now looking for new members.
This week, registration opened for people who are interested in getting involved and being selected as jury members.
If selected, new jurors will join the current jury members to make decisions on how money is spent on creative activity in the region.
Everyone Here, the arts programme behind the jury, hosted two Jury for Joy weekends last year – in May and November. Both weekends saw jury members come together to agree on ideas, approaches and events for local communities to enjoy.
One of the jury’s ideas has already come to life this week in Dearham in the form of a touring heritage bus bringing free creative activities and performances to different corners of West Cumbria.
Interested in getting involved? Here’s everything you need to know…
What is a citizens’ jury?
A citizens’ jury is a way of involving members of the public in helping make decisions about a certain subject.
A jury is made up of a group of people randomly selected by lottery, who broadly represent the demographic make-up of an entire place. They learn about issues and discuss them with one another, and make decisions about what should happen and how things should change.
Why use a citizens’ jury model?
By using a citizens’ jury Everyone Here wants to help and grow the number of different people and processes delivering, deciding upon and attending creative events in West Cumbria.
Local people know what’s best for their place and so their voices should be heard. A citizens’ jury gives people the time and sources of information to develop well-informed decisions about where they live.
Why is creativity important?
Creativity is a powerful tool that can add value to people’s lives and inspire change. Creativity can be explored, expressed and enjoyed in many ways. From podcasting to pottery, tap dance to TikTok, stitching to singing, and everything in between, creativity can bring smiles to faces and make life feel brighter and more fun.
So who can register to take part in Jury for Joy?
Anyone aged 18 and over who lives at an address in West Cumbria can register. And when we refer to West Cumbria we mean the old boroughs of Allerdale and Copeland.
You don’t need any prior knowledge to take part, you just need to bring yourself, your experience and a willingness to listen and take part.
What’s it like being on the jury?
If you’re selected to take part you’ll be well looked after and everyone will have their voice heard.
Here’s a peek behind the scenes of the first jury at Moorclose Community Centre in May 2024…
You’ll get to meet new people and make new friends. You’ll hear different ideas, perspectives and proposals and have time with your fellow jury members to make decisions on how to shape creative activity in West Cumbria.
You’ll also get to experience some creative activities together as a group and have fun along the way!
Watch more reflections from the second jury at The Oval Centre in November 2024:
Are the Jury for Joy events accessible?
Yes. Each jury will be held at an accessible venue with disabled parking available.
Lunch and snacks will be provided and transport support is available to help you travel to and from the venue if needed.
Everyone will have access to a quiet space and/or prayer room during the day.
The information provided during each event will be presented in a simple and straightforward manner.
Before each jury, members will receive a face-to-face or virtual one-to-one visit from a member of the Everyone Here team.
If jury members require any form of additional support, for example childcare, access support, or other caring responsibilities, then every attempt will be made to provide this to help them to attend.
If jury members are selected and take part they will receive £200 in shopping vouchers per jury as a thank you gift.
How does selection work?
Everyone who is registered by Monday April 7 will be entered into the Jury for Joy spring 2025 lottery.
This lottery will select participants at random taking into consideration the demographic make-up of West Cumbria.
So it will look at things like age, gender and postcode and randomly select those who have the criteria that make our jury as representative as possible.
From this process Jury for Joy aims to recruit 10 new members to join the 20 current jury members this spring. All members will then attend the next Jury for Joy taking place on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1.
How long will the Jury for Joy run for?
This is a long-term project. Everyone Here will continue to hold the Jury for Joy twice a year for many years to come so that it can continue to make decisions about the creative activity taking place here in West Cumbria. Jury members are encouraged to join for as long as they can and Everyone Here looks to grow the jury year on year by recruiting new members.
I’m interested, how do I register?
There are a few different ways you can register depending on your access needs.
You can register by filling out this form
You can email [email protected] and one of the Everyone Here team will get back to you to help you sign up over the phone or online.
You can call the Everyone team on 07522 849071 and they will have a quick chat with you and sign you up over the phone.
You can also speak to one of the Everyone Here team at one of their Spark Bus events taking place over the next few months at different locations across West Cumbria.
At the event a team member will take you through the registration form in person and register you while you are with them.
What happens if I’m selected to join the jury?
If you are selected to be a jury member via our lottery on Monday April 7, you will be contacted by one of the Everyone Here team by phone and email by Friday April 11 to let you know. We’ll confirm that you still want to take part, can attend our jury on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1 and any requirements you may have.
Before the jury takes place at the end of May one of the Everyone Here team will meet you either in person or online for a one-to-one session to talk through everything you need to know before attending your first jury.
What happens if I’m not selected to join the jury?
On registering you’ll be asked if you want us to be included in our future lotteries in autumn 2025 and spring 2026. If you opt in this will give you a second and third chance of being selected to be part of our ongoing Jury for Joy.
In the meantime, you can sign up to the Everyone Here newsletter which will keep you in the loop about what the jury have been doing and how their decisions are already shaping creative activity here in West Cumbria.
