The government published a standardized analytical framework for undertaking community empowerment evaluations.
Source: Scott Dickinson and Meera Prabhakar, An Analytical Framework for Community Empowerment Evaluations, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Framework
Date: 2009-Dec
A new book examined the theory and practice of community participation in the making of social policy.
Source: Margaret Ledwith and Jane Springett, Participatory Practice: Community-based action for transformative change, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Nov
A report examined a three-year experimental approach called 'community philosophy', designed to promote conversations and develop positive relationships between different groups of people within a community.
Source: Graeme Tiffany, Community Philosophy: A project report, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Date: 2009-Nov
Two reports examined the 'community allowance' – a scheme (being piloted by the government) enabling community organizations to pay local people on incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance to do part-time, sessional, or short-term work that strengthened their community, without affecting their benefits.
Source: Naomi Alexander (ed.), The Community Allowance: A Step Up for People and Places, CREATE Consortium | Susan Steed and Aleksi Knuutila, Benefits that Work: The social value of the community allowance, New Economics Foundation
Links: CREATE report | NEF report | Community Links press release
Date: 2009-Nov
The government published guidance for frontline workers on techniques that could help build community cohesion. It also announced the first phase of a £12 million programme of additional support for those local communities in England under the greatest 'pressure' as a result of the economic recession.
Source: Building Cohesive Communities: What frontline staff and community activists need to know, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Guidance | Hansard | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2009-Oct
A new textbook provided an introduction to key concepts in community studies, and to the social research methods used by community researchers and practitioners.
Source: Tony Blackshaw, Key Concepts in Community Studies, SAGE Publications Ltd (020 7324 8500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Oct
A report examined community empowerment, using 2007-08 Citizenship Survey data. It looked at whether people felt that they could influence local and national decisions; whether they would like to be more involved in decision-making; what would make it easier to influence decision-making; and how people would influence decisions if they wanted to. It also looked at people's trust in institutions and what activities people actually took part in (civic activism, civic consultation, civic participation, and volunteering).
Source: Maya Agur and Natalie Low, 2007-08 Citizenship Survey: Empowered Communities Topic Report, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Sep
A new textbook examined the issues surrounding both the idea of 'community' in relation to social policy and the complex processes of policy formation and implementation with a community dimension.
Source: Gerry Mooney and Sarah Neal, Community: Welfare, Crime and Society, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2009-Sep
A study examined the available evidence on the economic benefits of building cohesion. It reviewed evidence for crime, fear of crime, education, employment, health, and economic investment. It suggested that cohesion could have positive effects in a number of different areas.
Source: The Economic Case for Cohesion, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Aug
An article examined the democratic effectiveness of area forums – neighbourhood-based participatory forums introduced from the late 1990s onwards. It said that the forums did not meet the criteria for an effective democratic public sphere, and might even present barriers to effective participation.
Source: Michael Farrelly, 'Citizen participation and neighbourhood governance: analysing democratic practice', Local Government Studies, Volume 35 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Aug
A report identified key themes, and good practice, from around 15 reviews of efforts to build community cohesion at a local level.
Source: Building Community Cohesion in Britain: Lessons from iCoCo local reviews, Institute of Community Cohesion/Coventry University (024 7679 5757)
Links: Report | BHA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Jul
Two linked reports examined the merits of different community empowerment mechanisms, including: asset transfer; citizen governance; electronic participation; participatory budgeting; petitions; and redress. Each mechanism was able to empower to some extent. Overall, the mechanisms selected showed the potential to empower those directly participating and to both influence and shape decision-making. However, it was widely found to be more difficult to empower the community as a whole through the use of such mechanisms. Only citizen governance and participatory budgeting showed clear evidence of spill-over from individuals to the wider community.
Source: Lawrence Pratchett et al., Empowering Communities to Influence Local Decision Making: A systematic review of the evidence, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only) | Lawrence Pratchett et al., Empowering Communities to Influence Local Decision Making: Evidence-based lessons for policy makers and practitioners, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report (1) | Report (2)
Date: 2009-Jun
A report said that trade union representatives were many times more likely than the general population to engage in voluntary work and give their time to community organizations. 8 per cent of representatives were school governors; and 5 per cent were trustees of, or sat on the governing bodies of, local organizations.
Source: Gregor Gall, Unions in the Community: A survey of union reps, Trades Union Congress (020 7467 1294)
Links: Report | TUC press release
Date: 2009-May
A report examined the roles of local councillors and third sector representatives in community leadership, and made recommendations designed to strengthen relationships between the two groups. Two-way communication between councillors and the community was key, and traditional methods of engaging local citizens (such as ward councillors' surgeries) were insufficient. There was an urgent need for more a more diverse range of councillors to strengthen decision-making and legitimacy.
Source: Leading Lights: Research into the role of councillors and third sector representatives in community leadership, Urban Forum (020 7253 4816)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-May
A new book examined ways to understand and engage with the concept of 'community', presenting a variety of perspectives to challenge the ways in which areas characterized by poverty and disrepute were represented. The book was based on the author's involvement as a youth worker in a housing estate in a city in the west of England (Bristol).
Source: Jeremy Brent, Searching for Community: Representation, power and action on an urban estate, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary | Bristol University press release
Date: 2009-May
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive published a strategy setting out how residents, along with their local community associations, could get involved in developing their local services to improve their quality of life.
Source: Community Involvement Strategy 2008 to 2011, Northern Ireland Housing Executive (028 9024 0588)
Links: Strategy
Date: 2009-Mar
A report reviewed the evidence for the existing state of cross-community interaction within England, together with theoretical approaches – such as 'contact theory' – that could inform activities that brought individuals and groups together.
Source: Andrew Orton, What Works in Enabling Cross-community Interactions? Perspectives on good policy and practice, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Mar
A think-tank report called for a grant fund to help community development finance institutions (CDFIs) support third sector organizations that provided public services.
Source: David Boyle, Stephen Spratt and Sargon Nissan, I.O.U.K.: Banking failure and how to build a fit financial sector, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Report | CAF report | Guardian report
Date: 2009-Mar
The Scottish Government published a plan designed to encourage people to participate in the running of their neighbourhoods.
Source: Community: Scottish Community Empowerment Action Plan, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Links: Plan | SG press release | New Start report
Date: 2009-Mar
An article said that there was a lack of understanding of what motivated individuals to become community activists. A research project in east Manchester (in the north of England) had found that the motives of activists were varied, and more nuanced than was proposed by existing social science theories such as rational choice, social network theory, or the application of such concepts as 'citizen-consumers'.
Source: Georgina Blakeley and Brendan Evans, 'Who participates, how and why in urban regeneration projects? The case of the new "city" of east Manchester', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 43 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Feb
A report examined how community development teams were structured in local authorities. It looked at different structural models, and at the key factors that helped community development to have an impact.
Source: Structures for Community Development in Local Authorities, Community Development Foundation (020 7226 5375)
Links: Report | CDF press release
Date: 2009-Jan
The government published guidance suggesting ways in which local councils, voluntary groups, and other organizations could encourage a sense of belonging within local communities.
Source: Guidance on Building a Local Sense of Belonging, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Guidance
Date: 2009-Jan
The government published guidance setting out what was known about meaningful interaction within communities, based on research findings and the views of expert practitioners.
Source: Guidance on Meaningful Interaction: How encouraging positive relationships between people can help build community cohesion, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Guidance
Date: 2009-Jan