Across the seven INSPIRE pilots, participatory democracy did not end with performances, exhibitions or a list of policy proposals. It moved into a more demanding - and often less visible to the main public - phase, what many partners came to call the day after.

We all want to feel cared for, and valued. It matters for our wellbeing, but, we argue, it also matters for our sense of agency and our participation in democratic life. When we tend to the simple, human aspects of participation, we build foundations for transformative democratic capabilities.

King’s College London, in collaboration with Lancaster University, led a scoping review exploring the transformative potential of...