IN THE SOCIAL media age, we all have a platform. But those who shout the loudest or generate the most outrage are invariably the ones who capture the most attention.

Having a voice is different. It means having a say, but also a stake, in the future of your town, your community, your society. It’s a notion that’s increasingly under threat today.

Rightly or wrongly, there’s a perception that the biggest challenges facing governments in Europe today, from affordable housing to AI, our fractured geopolitical system to the climate crisis – are insurmountable. This should worry us deeply.

Democracy cannot be measured by elections or economic growth alone, nor be sustained by government institutions only. People must believe they still have a voice.

So how can we give the average citizen the chance to participate and be heard outside of elections?

Firstly, we need to normalise and encourage getting involved – whether that’s as simple as volunteering for a cause you care about or joining a local community group. In our increasingly digitalised and atomised lives, this not only grounds us in local realities but builds real connections and friendships.

I get that many are too time poor to do this. But participation in a professional setting is also a possibility for many. Joining a trade union, professional association, or business network is an excellent way to have a........

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