A report examined the implications for the voluntary and community sector of the ending of the 'single regeneration budget' programme. It said social regeneration projects faced a funding gap of up to 60 million because money from regional development agencies single pot was focused on economic improvement. Dozens of community empowerment and capacity building projects could face closure.
Source: Sarah Fishbourne and Caroline Gaunt, Out of SRB, Into the Pot, Urban Forum (020 7253 4816)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Community Care article
Date: 2003-Oct
A report presented the findings of a survey of community workers carried out in 2001-02 - said to be the first such survey for nearly 20 years - and provided a commentary on the implications for the community development profession.
Source: Andrew Glen, Paul Henderson, Jayne Humm, Helen Meszaros with Maire Gaffney, Survey of Community Workers in the UK, Community Development Foundation (020 7226 5375) and Standing Conference for Community Development
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
A report reviewed progress made on implementing the recommendations made in 2000 by a taskforce on social investment. It highlighted the introduction of a community investment tax relief; the setting up of the first community development venture fund; and progress toward disclosure by banks of their lending in under-invested communities.
Source: Enterprising Communities: Wealth beyond welfare, Social Investment Task Force/Community Development Finance Association (020 7430 0222)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
The fifth and final code of good practice was published as part of the compact on relations between government and the voluntary and community sector in England. The code aimed to strengthen ties between the government and community groups.
Source: Press release 23.7.03, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Home Office press release
Date: 2003-Jul
A guide was published on how to use a sustainable development approach to environmental, social or economic projects which benefited local people and the environment as a whole.
Source: Chris Church, A Better Place to Live: Guide for community groups to local action on sustainable development, Community Development Foundation (020 7226 5375)
Links: CDF press release (Word file) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jun
A report compared various approaches to accrediting and raising the standard of community investment undertaken by voluntary and community organisations, public sector bodies and private enterprises. It said that the government and others should accept a diversity of approaches and not seek to develop one standard approach.
Source: Ensuring the Quality of Community Investment, People for Action (0121 233 9003)
Links: Report (pdf) | People for Action press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The final report of the Scottish Community Planning Task Force was published. It recommended that community planning partnerships should commit themselves to all or most of the key priorities of the Scottish Executive; and that the partnerships should build the capacity of communities to be engaged in community processes, with the support of the Scottish Executive, Scottish local authorities and Communities Scotland.
Source: Final Report of Community Planning Task Force, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-May
Following a review report, the government outlined the following key roles for the Community Development Foundation: contributing to the debate on community cohesion and diversity; the development of practical indicators that can be used to describe a well-functioning community; showing public bodies (including central and local government) how they can strengthen communities; advising on systems for involving neighbourhoods and communities in service planning; and exploring ways of strengthening 'neighbourliness', citizenship and community infrastructures.
Source: Stage 2 of the Quinquennial Review of the Community Development Foundation on behalf of the Home Office: Final report, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | Statement of the Home Office Position on the Role and Remit of Community Development Foundation, Home Office
Links: Report (pdf) | Statement (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
A report argued that community-based organisations are in danger of being co-opted by government as it attempts to tackle social exclusion. Research found concern among some groups that they are being used as instruments of government policy , and they risk losing the trust of the people they serve.
Source: Helen McCarthy, Inside Out: Rethinking inclusive communities, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Feb