Welcome
Thanks for paying us a visit. This page explains the Bank of England Citizens’ Forum: what it is, why it matters, and how you can get involved through our panel events and online platform.
Who we are
We’re a public body but we’re independent from the Government.
We’re the UK’s central bank. Our job is to promote the good of the people of the United Kingdom by maintaining monetary and financial stability.
That means managing inflation – the rate at which prices rise – and making sure that the financial system, which includes banks and building societies, functions properly. We also issue banknotes and run the system that allows electronic payments to take place.
Find out more about who we are and what we do.
Why get involved
What we do affects everyone, so we’ve set up the citizens’ forum so we can listen directly to you. We want to hear what you have to say about jobs, pay and the cost of living. And we’d like to know about your experiences of the housing market and how easy you find it to borrow and save money. Taking part means you can put your views directly to people who make decisions that affect you. Our citizens’ forum members help us to understand how major events, such as Covid, affect people financially.What to expect
After you have signed up, you can get involved:
- through our exclusive member only online platform, The Economy Hub
- by attending a citizens' panel event in your local area
- by participating in a focus group session that explores a key theme or topic or by joining one of our large scale Q&A sessions with the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey
Signing up and getting involved means you can:
- learn more about what we do and how the economy works
- meet our staff
- tell us what you think – your views are welcome and valued
How to apply
Anyone over 16 can sign up. We want our panel events to be as representative as possible. If events are oversubscribed, we’ll select a diverse range of people from all applicants.Apply to take part
Upcoming events
Due to the coronavirus outbreak we don’t have any physical panel meetings planned. However, we are running a virtual programme of events and over the next few months will be virtually visiting:
- Northern Ireland, Wednesday 13 October 5pm
If you would be interested in participating in any of these sessions please sign up to our Citizens’ Forum community and details will be shared.
Everyone is welcome to join and all our sessions are free to attend.
What people say about being involved
- “The mixture of people made it even more enjoyable - many thanks for this opportunity” Tracey, Ware
- “The debate and content were great” David, Leeds
- “Brilliant discussion” Melissa, Brixton
- “Really pleased that the speakers were honest and open” Steve, Exeter
- “Very informative and enjoyable, a great idea” Lee, Leicester
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Information we collect
By this application form for Citizens’ Panels (“Panels”), the Bank of England (“we” or the “Bank”) collects personal data about you. This information includes contact details, varied demographic information and your opinions about the economy.
Why we need your personal data
We collect your personal data to evaluate public understanding of the UK economy and the Bank’s mission. We also collect a broad range of information to assist us in identifying a varied sample of individuals to be invited to our Citizens’ Panel events.
This is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority of the Bank. To the extent to which you provide us with any special categories of personal data, including diversity information, our basis for processing this data is that it is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest.What we do with your personal data
Citizens’ Panel application
We use the information to develop the Panel events and ensure that attendees are representative of the UK population. Your opinions may also influence how we conduct the Bank’s mission as relevant to the Bank’s policy, analytical, operational and supervisory work.
We use a third party provider, WorldAPP Inc, based in the United States, to provide the KeySurvey online application form. WorldAPP Inc participates in, and has certified its compliance with, a recognised EU-U.S. privacy framework. For more information about WorldAPP Inc’s security practices and privacy policy visit https://www.keysurvey.com/privacy-policy.If you are not selected for the Panel, we will keep your personal data for 3 years. If you are selected for the Panel, we will keep your personal data for 5 years from your last interaction with us. If at any time, you no longer wish to be involved, you can let us know at outreach@bankofengland.co.uk.
Panel events
If selected, you will receive an invitation to participate in the Panel and we will use your personal data to co-ordinate your attendance and for event management.
You will be required to bring identity documentation with you to any event so that we can ensure that only people who have been granted places as members of the Panel will be able to enter. We will use this along with the information that you provide to us in your application to verify your identity, and to carry out appropriate security checks as deemed necessary by the Bank.
Please be aware that audio recordings may be made of conversations which take place during the event in order for us to be able to accurately capture your points of view.
You can request that we no longer use your personal data, by writing to us at the address below.
Further engagement
If selected, we will contact you about Panel events. We may also contact you about other information or opportunities that may be of interest to you, depending on the options you have selected in the application form.
Your rights
You have a number of rights under data protection laws (for example, you have the right to ask us for a copy of the personal data the Bank holds about you. This is known as a ‘Subject Access Request’). You can ask us to change how we process or deal with your personal data, and you may also have the right in some circumstances to have your personal data amended or deleted.
To find out more about those rights, to make a complaint, or to contact our Data Protection Officer, please see our website at bankofengland.co.uk/privacy.
This page was last updated 25 October 2021
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