100 likes | 229 Views
Community capacity building. Neil Lambert Voluntary Action Charnwood. Identity. Where do I live? Identify your community by:- Place name – village/estate People who are members Number of people <100, ’00s, > Size of area – district, region Interest – e.g. birdwatchers.
E N D
Community capacity building Neil Lambert Voluntary Action Charnwood
Identity Where do I live? Identify your community by:- • Place name – village/estate • People who are members • Number of people <100, ’00s, > • Size of area – district, region • Interest – e.g. birdwatchers
Stronger communities strategy within SCS seeks to empower communities to • Define themselves, so that members identify with each other • Recognise other communities • Engage effectively with the authorities who plan and provide public services In order to improve the lives of everyone in Leicestershire
Community development • Social justice • Participation • Equality • Learning • Co-operation • Environmental justice – action to protect and improve
Types of change • DOING something new or differently • Spending more money • Making more physical effort • STOPPING doing something, whether benefits apparent or not
Campaigning – one-off or longer-term • May not require formal records • Could reach more people by direct personal contact, including in their own groups • E.g. signing up to pledge • Time intensive but more success
Set up a new group • Function – purpose, why, what, aims, activities, duration, outcomes, impact • Form – charity (constitution), company (M+A), loose terms of reference (simple statement) • Publicity to join; and to achieve aims/outcomes/impact
Leading & Organising • Charismatic leader • Motivator or Persuader • Direct contact at local level • Coordination in communities • Getting things done through meetings • Actions louder than words
Disciplines • Record keeping • Registration and compliance • Cash and banking • Accountability for funding • Lack of support • Failure to achieve
Checklist • Ask whether a group is needed • What purpose/aims? Short-term? • What activities and members? • How will you judge success? • How will others judge success? • Assess effort required, and risk, against benefits achievable