Using Asset Based Community Development to Support Individuals

Using Asset Based Community Development to Support Individuals and Communities Strengths ……………………………… @mickmodern Mick Ward Chief Officer (Transformation and Innovation) Adults and Health Leeds City Council

What do we mean by asset based approaches? ………………………………. 'You can't know what a person or a community needs, until they first know what they have. ‘ John Mc. Knight, Co-Director, ABCD Institute

Case study – Asset Based Community Development …………………………………. . ABCD Key building blocks: - Community Builders - Finding Community Connectors - Mapping assets (Inc. people’s gifts) - Small sparks funding

Community Capacity/Social Capital/Asset Based Community Development: Why is it important? “No society has the money to buy, at market prices, what it takes to raise children, make a neighbourhood safe, care for the elderly, make democracy work or address systemic injustices…. . The only way the world is going to address social problems is by enlisting the very people who are now classified as ‘clients’ and ‘consumers’ and converting them into co-workers, partners and rebuilders of the core economy” Professor Edgar Cahn, US-based civil rights lawyer and inventor of Timebanks

Delivering Asset Based Community Development …………………………………. . ABCD Key building blocks: • The ‘Model’ • A way of working • An approach

ABCD ‘Model’: - Community Builders Finding Community Connectors Mapping assets (Inc. people’s gifts) Small sparks funding

Asset Based Community Development (Model in practice) …………………………………. . Senior Network Support project

ABCD – A way of working: Neighbourhood Networks • Preventative/Community services for older people run by older people • 35 independent community organisations covering 37 areas • Contracts awarded from 2010 – now further 5+5 year grants • Funded by Leeds City Council Current funding £ 2. 4 m (initially £ 1. 9 m) - now to be £ 3 m • ABCD approaches to be built in new Specification

A Way of Working: Migrant Access Project https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ZFSi 01 bduv 0 …………………………………………

ABCD – An Approach

Proliferating ABCD in Leeds …………………………… v Resourcing ABCD Model & Place Based Work in Neighbourhoods v Building into specifications (Third Sector and Statutory) v Work with Communities Teams and Other Directorates v Linking to NHS Developments (Health Coaching/Population Health Management/Local care partnerships) v Combining ABCD and Strengths Based Social Work as a place based approach to ‘working with’ v Establishing Training Organisation v Developing a community organisations as an ‘Anchor organisation’

Things to think about …………………………… v It is a move away from ‘service land’ not from responsibilities v It requires having a different conversation v Some things may need some ‘small sparks’ funding – but do not over fund v Recognise it’s a relational activity (not a project or procurement approach) v Let a hundred flowers blossom (and let some wilt!) v It will reduce demand – but over time v And – Get out there!