A think-tank report said that aligning microlending in the United Kingdom with the European microfinance movement, and distinguishing this from other credit lines, was essential to avoid leaving most clients of community development finance institutions without access to finance.
Source: Veronika Thiel, Credit with a Social Mission: Why aligning the UK with the European microfinance movement matters, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
A study examined evidence on community organizations owning or managing assets, including buildings and land. There was limited evidence of the scale and nature of community ownership of assets. The potential benefits of asset management and ownership were clear, although they focused mainly on the advantages gained by organizations. There was less evidence on benefits accruing to communities.
Source: Mike Aiken, Ben Cairns and Stephen Thake, Community Ownership and Management of Assets, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Date: 2008-Dec
A new book examined the ways in which front-line social development work professionals engaged with communities, and the dilemmas inherent in the policy context in which they operated.
Source: Paul Hoggett, Marjorie Mayo and Chris Miller, The Dilemmas of Development Work: Ethical challenges in regeneration, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Nov
A report examined the role that neighbourhood management could play in promoting community cohesion by examining the experience of five case study pathfinder areas. The report had a particular focus on race, ethnicity, and cultural issues as they related to community cohesion.
Source: SQW Consulting, Community Cohesion and Neighbourhood Management: A theme report from the neighbourhood management pathfinders national evaluation, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Oct
A report provided an overview of how neighbourhood management activity had been extended beyond official pathfinder areas into other neighbourhoods. It included a summary of the national evidence base about the nature of neighbourhood management, and the findings of a new national survey of local authorities about the extent of neighbourhood management and the different models emerging. It drew on summaries of ten new case studies of neighbourhood management initiatives, illustrating the range of practices.
Source: SQW Consulting, Neighbourhood Management Beyond the Pathfinders: A national overview, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Oct
A think-tank report said that the failure of the community development finance sector to realize its full potential was rooted in the conflicting demands placed it. Outreach and regeneration work, designed to generate long-term social benefits, could not be easily reconciled with financial sustainability.
Source: Veronika Thiel and Sargon Nissan, UK CDFIs: From Surviving to Thriving – Realising the potential of community development finance, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Oct
A report drew together findings from an extensive evaluation of neighbourhood management pathfinders conducted between 2002 and 2008, including household survey analyses, interviews, and case studies. It provided a final statement of how neighbourhood management had been delivered by the pathfinders and of what had been achieved.
Source: SQW Consulting, Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders: Final Evaluation Report – People, Places, Public Services: Making the Connections, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Oct
A new book criticized attempts by the state and other agencies to correct the 'collapse' of communities. Modern societies, underpinned by a ruthlessly competitive and individualistic economic system, had undermined ties of family, solidarity, and commonality. However, when the idea of community was articulated it was almost invariably along conservative and reactionary lines – with unelected spokespersons unquestionably accepted as 'community leaders', and with formal contractual relationships taking the place of 'traditional' social order.
Source: Dave Clements, Alastair Donald, Martin Earnshaw and Austin Williams (eds.), The Future of Community: Reports of a death greatly exaggerated, Pluto Press (020 8348 2724)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Oct
The inspectorate for education and children's services examined aspects of adult and community learning and its impact on community renewal.
Source: The Role of Adult Learning in Community Renewal: Neighbourhood learning in deprived communities programmes, HMI 070228, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (07002 637833)
Links: Report | Ofsted press release
Date: 2008-Sep
A report said that widening inequality had led to social fragmentation and the isolation of poorer communities. It called for a radical rethinking of the approach to regeneration and community development. 'Top-down' government attempts at regeneration such as the New Deal for Communities had inadequate impact because they over-emphasized democratic and bureaucratic concerns and did not make use of local talents, knowledge, and resources.
Source: Charlotte Young and Don Young, Sustainable Paths to Community Development: Helping deprived communities to help themselves, School for Social Entrepreneurs (020 8981 0300)
Links: Summary | SSE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Sep
A paper said that community-led enterprise organizations could drive positive change in their neighbourhoods, creating a self-help and problem-solving culture, and help individuals move out of poverty. Although many community groups were struggling, a new generation of more confident and aspirational community organizations was emerging. These were characterized by the use of social enterprise methods, community asset ownership, and a 'can do' attitude that sought to unlock potential in people and places – in short, 'community enterprise'.
Source: Glen Arradon and Steve Wyler, What Role for Community Enterprises in Tackling Poverty?, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Date: 2008-Sep
An article examined attempts by the devolved administrations to develop their own agenda for change with respect to the introduction of 'community planning'. More formalized arrangements might be required to support the development of a stronger and broader strategic framework for community planning.
Source: Simon Pemberton and Greg Lloyd, 'Devolution, community planning and institutional decongestion?', Local Government Studies, Volume 34 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Aug
A new book examined the key changes to the context and practice of community development since the 1970s. It focused on dilemmas arising from the shift to partnership working from a more confrontational model, and the professionalization of the field.
Source: Michael Pitchford, Making Spaces for Community Development, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Jul
A think-tank report examined how neighbourhood and community empowerment could improve well-being, by: providing greater opportunities for residents to influence decisions affecting their neighbourhoods; facilitating regular contact between neighbours; and helping residents gain the confidence to exercise control.
Source: Mandeep Hothi with Nicola Bacon, Marcia Brophy and Geoff Mulgan, Neighbourliness + Empowerment = well-being: Is there a formula for happy communities?, Young Foundation (020 8980 6263), Improvement and Development Agency and Centre for Economic Performance/London School of Economics
Links: Report | IDeA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
A think-tank report said that segregation between communities seemed to be growing in some parts of the country. Extremism, both political and religious, was on the rise as people became more disillusioned and disconnected. The report examined how sustainable and cohesive communities could be built at both local and national level.
Source: Nick Johnson (ed.), Citizenship, Cohesion and Solidarity, Smith Institute (020 7592 3618)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jun
A study examined the challenges to be addressed if government policies to promote community engagement were to be genuinely inclusive of newcomers as well as more established communities. Community engagement and community cohesion were both existing public policy priorities: but there had been gaps in knowledge about how to promote community representation in ways that took account of diversity and population change.
Source: Geraldine Blake et al., Community Engagement and Community Cohesion, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2008-Jun
A literature review examined what was known about the effectiveness of intergenerational practice, in particular in education, community development/neighbourhood renewal, and health settings. There was evidence that successful intergenerational projects had the potential to deliver positive outcomes for participants and for communities.
Source: Iain Springate. Mary Atkinson and Kerry Martin, Intergenerational Practice: A review of the literature, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Date: 2008-May
A study examined different models of citizen-centred governance and the principles on which this was based. Towns and cities were governed by a patchwork of special-purpose governance structures operating alongside local authorities, National Health Service bodies, and other government agencies. The picture was 'complex and changing'. Citizens and service users in disadvantaged neighbourhoods were doubly disadvantaged: not only did they have to overcome the economic, social, and political barriers of disadvantaged neighbourhoods, but their opportunities for involvement in shaping public services were also constantly being changed.
Source: Marian Barnes et al., Designing Citizen-centred Governance, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2008-May
A new book examined ways of promoting community self-help, and the relevance and value of community activity in tackling neighbourhood problems. Problems such as graffiti, alcoholism, and street crime needed to be tackled from within communities by residents, alongside outside agencies such as the police and social services.
Source: Liz Richardson, DIY Community Action: Neighbourhood problems and community self-help, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary | LSE press release
Date: 2008-Mar
A report evaluated a pilot programme that explored the potential to develop 'active networks' in local communities. Each programme aimed to bring together key workers, activists, and community leaders who were working to make a difference in their community, in order to create more effective neighbourhood and community networks.
Source: Icarus Collective, An Evaluation of Local Links: Reviewing a pilot programme to develop active networks in local communities, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Date: 2008-Jan
An article reported the findings of a qualitative study on the impact of community-based research in South Yorkshire. It highlighted the social capital impacts arising from the use of such research within development practice, particularly in terms of the formation of networks and the development of trust. Although community-based research could enhance social capital, this was a complex process and as such was not an easy tool to harness and use within the policy-making process.
Source: Louise Warwick-Booth, 'Locally directed policy and the fostering of social capital within regeneration: the case of objective 1 South Yorkshire', Social Policy and Society, Volume 7 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jan