A short guide to community development Alison Gilchrist

A short guide to community development Alison Gilchrist February 2014

Introduction and overview �My background and journey �Short Guide to CD as basis for my input �Definitions and terms �Development of ‘what’? �History and models of CD �Practice – principles and processes �Current debates and dilemmas �Future challenges �Conclude with time for questions and discussion

Definitions and terms �CD as working with, not for, communities to achieve improvements and address shared issues �Problems, priorities and solutions determined by communities themselves �Emphasis on shared concerns and collective strategies �Values-based – social justice, inclusion and equality, human rights (small ‘p’ politics)

Brief history Several roots �Philanthropy �Participation �Partnership �Pedagogy �Politics Three broad models �Changing the system - radical �Influencing the system - pluralist �Making the system work better – consensus

CD as development of ‘community’ Self-help, organising for influence and action Sense of belonging and solidarity �Efficacy �Capacity �Resilience �Social capital �Active citizenship �Community engagement �Shared identity �Cohesion �Well-being �Mutual care and respect �Volunteering �Community pride/spirit

Processes and practice: 7 E’s all focused on interests of others rather than ‘self’ �Enabling �Empowering �Encouraging �Educating �Equalising �Engaging �Evaluating

Various models �Community organising/action �Neighbourhood development �Capacity building �Informal education �Community engagement/active citizenship �Social investment/community enterprise �Critical community practice �User empowerment/co-production �Asset-based community development �Participatory action research �Networking approaches

Debates and dilemmas Specialist occupation, approach or movement? �‘Deficits’ versus ‘strengths’ analysis �Power dimensions – local -> global levels �Social justice – various understandings �Organic emergence or external intervention �Role awareness/boundaries/responsibilities �Orientation/accountabilities

Current and future challenges Employment situation and status � Invisible/precarious/contested job � National occupational standards � Maverick individuals � Management difficulties � Demonstrating impact/measuring value � Policy-driven, short term � Not community-led and longterm � Funding and recognition of professional role Changing society and technology �Re-configuring ‘community’ � geography, interest and identity � Intersectional identities � Increasing diversity and more mobile communities �Rising inequalities and poverty �Everyday Internet usage � Social media, on-line networking � Digital disadvantage

Some concluding thoughts �Policy shifts in recent decades �Partnership – contracts, user involvement, V+CS commissioning �Community engagement/empowerment �Localism – planning, community-run services �Big Society – self-help, volunteering �Paradox – best CD is invisible, so constantly needs rediscovering by successive governments and generations �Potential – massive and enduring

Resources and reading �Gilchrist and Taylor (2011) Short guide to community development �Craig et al (2011) CD in the UK – a reader �Ledwith (2005) Community development – a critical approach �www. iacdglobal. org �www. fcdl. org. uk �www. cdf. org. uk

Questions for reflection and discussion �Would you say you using a CD approach in your work or your life? �Thinking about your own experience, do you recognise the opportunities and issues I have raised? �What’s been useful and what’s missing?