Eastbourne launches People’s Panel
Residents selected at random to shape up to £20 million
investment in the town.
Eastbourne is launching a new People’s Panel to help shape how up to £20 million of government funding is invested across the town over the next decade.
Using the Royal Mail address database 7,500 households across Eastbourne have been randomly selected and will receive an invitation letter in the coming days.
If a household receives a letter, it means they have been selected as part of a fair and representative democratic process known as sortition.
Sortition is a civic lottery system used in citizens’ assemblies around the world. It ensures that everyday residents – not just those who actively put themselves forward – are included in shaping public decisions.
From those randomly selected households who receive an invitation, all residents over the age of 18 from that address can register their interest. A further independent lottery process, managed by the Sortition Foundation, will then select 25 people to form the final panel.
The group will be selected to reflect Eastbourne’s population as closely as possible, including a balance of age, background, location across the town, and a fair representation of disabled and non-disabled residents, as well as people with different health conditions and access needs.
Richard Garland, Chair of the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board, said:
“This is about fairness and representation. If you receive a letter, it is because you have been randomly selected. We are not asking for experts or volunteers – we are asking for a cross-section of Eastbourne to come together and help shape the town’s future.”
The Eastbourne People’s Panel will meet over four sessions in September and October 2026. Participants will learn about key local issues, hear from experts, and work together to develop shared priorities for the town.
Their recommendations will be presented to the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board to help guide long-term investment decisions.
The process is being independently designed and facilitated by New Citizen Project, with the Sortition Foundation overseeing the random selection process.
New Citizen Project is an organisation which specialises in participation strategy and design and has been commissioned by the Neighbourhood Board to design and deliver the Eastbourne People’s Panel. They have run a number of high-profile deliberative democracy projects including IPSA’s landmark Citizens’ Forum on MP’s Pay and Funding, RSPCA’s Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Animal Welfare and Jersey’s Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change. They also designed the overarching RAPID Democracy framework for the People’s Plan for Nature, a pioneering deliberative project commissioned by RSPB, National Trust and WWF in 2022.
Residents who receive an invitation letter can register by Sunday 19 July via by scanning the QR code in their letter.
FAQ's
EASTBOURNE PEOPLE’S PANEL – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is the Eastbourne People’s Panel?
The Eastbourne People’s Panel is a group of 25 residents who will come together to help shape how up to £20 million of government funding is invested in the town.
The panel will discuss local priorities and help identify what matters most when deciding how funding should be used to improve Eastbourne over the next decade.
- Why is this being done?
The aim is to make sure local people help guide long-term decisions about Eastbourne’s future.
Rather than decisions being made by a small group, the People’s Panel brings in a wider range of voices from across the community.
- What is sortition?
Sortition is a democratic selection method that uses a random lottery to choose participants.
It is similar to jury service:
- Everyone has an equal chance of being selected
- No one applies based on influence or background
- The final group is balanced to reflect the town
After people register their interest, names are drawn at random and then checked to ensure the final panel reflects Eastbourne’s population.
This includes factors such as age, gender, location, and background.
- Why use sortition instead of voting or applications?
Traditional consultations often attract the same types of people.
Sortition helps ensure:
- A fair cross-section of residents is represented
- No group dominates the conversation
- Decisions reflect real lived experience across the town
- People who would not normally take part still have a voice
- Who is running the People’s Panel?
Three independent organisations are involved:
- Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board – oversees how the funding is used
- New Citizen Project – designs and facilitates the panel process
- Sortition Foundation – runs the independent lottery selection
Eastbourne Borough Council supports the programme but is kept totally separate from the decision-making process.
- Who can take part?
Anyone aged 18 or over living at a selected address in Eastbourne can register their interest.
However:
- Only one person per household can be selected
- Elected politicians, certain council employees, and Board members (and their close family) cannot take part
- I received a letter – why me?
Your address was randomly selected from Royal Mail’s address database as part of a town-wide selection process.
This does not mean you are being singled out – it means your household is part of a fair, random sample of Eastbourne.
- How are people selected?
The process works in two stages:
- 7,500 households are randomly selected and invited
- Anyone at those addresses can register interest
- From those who register, a random lottery (sortition) is used to select 25 people
- The final group is then balanced to reflect Eastbourne’s population
- Will the panel represent disabled people and accessibility needs?
Yes.
The selection process is designed to ensure the panel reflects the diversity of Eastbourne, including disabled and non-disabled residents.
Once selected, participants will also receive full accessibility support, which may include:
- Accessible venues
- Online participation options
- Technology support
- Additional practical support where needed
The aim is that everyone selected can take part fully.
- Will the panel support me if I have additional educational needs?
Yes.
Once selected, participants will also receive full support, which may include:
- Large print or braille for those partially sighted or blind
- Support with reading if dyslexic
- Sign language or written support if deaf
The aim is that everyone selected can take part fully.
- What will panel members actually do?
Panel members will:
- Learn about key issues affecting Eastbourne
- Hear from experts and local organisations
- Discuss ideas in small facilitated groups
- Agree shared priorities for the town
- Produce recommendations for the Neighbourhood Board
No prior knowledge is needed.
- Do I need to know anything about politics or local government?
No.
Everything is explained during the sessions, and facilitators help ensure discussions are clear and accessible.
The process is designed for everyday residents, not specialists.
- When does it happen?
The panel meets four times:
- Sat 26 Sept – in person (Eastbourne town centre)
- Wed 30 Sept – online
- Sat 3 Oct – online
- Sat 10 Oct – in person (Eastbourne town centre)
- What happens to the recommendations?
The recommendations from the People’s Panel will be presented to the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board.
They will be used to help guide decisions on how funding is prioritised and invested across the town.
- How do I register interest?
If your household received an invitation letter, you can register
Deadline: Sunday 19 July
If you do not receive a letter there may be the option to attend panel discussions as an observer.