Dragon's Den

Follows the model established by the popular BBC TV programme of the same name. The public members, or "dragons", receive pitches from the professionals and choose to give financial support, or vice versa.

What it is

This is a mechanism that places potential consumers in front of commissioners or providers in a light-hearted format that allows a choice to be made between competing options. There are a variety of easy of running it, with different groups being the ‘dragons', but the version we have tried places the public as ‘dragon'.

Pro's

  • Fun, exciting and empowering
  • Increases the voice of citizens in local decision making
  • It provides an opportunity to deepen citizenship and democracy
  • Increases legitimacy by increasing dialogue, enabling better communication

Con's

  • Could develop into a confrontation, needs careful setting of expectations and facilitation
  • Viewed by jaded communities as just another bandwagon or form of consultation
  • A risk that special interest groups could hijack the process
  • It is usually suggested by the PCT so can be seen as ‘top-down' and imposed
  • Needs strong commitment from all areas of the organisation
  • Needs to be supported by capacity building and time
  • It can raise expectations that cannot be met

How to do it...

Establish the funds or resources available

Identify and prioritise the issues you wish to deal with in this manner

Make a choice about the formats; you can have...

  1. Public dragons holding the resources, with several services pitching trying to satisfy one need
  2. Public dragons holding the resources, with several services pitching each trying to satisfy a different need
  3. Professionals holding the resources, with several community groups or individuals each pitching their need or problem for support
  4. Professionals holding the resources, with several community groups or individuals each pitching their service for support

...there are probably other variants too. Those that place the resources with the public dragons are likely to be easier to run.

Publicise the process and ask for participation

Provide support for the participants

Prepare the pitchers, so that they can give good presentations and answer questions

Prepare the dragons so that they can ask good questions and make reasoned choices

Book and prepare the venue

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Resources and Links

Talk to Cal Chikwendu at NHS Derby, 01332 224000 ext.6493 or cal.chikwendu@derbycitypct.nhs.uk