A report examined the potential role of community organizing within the 'Big Society' agenda – and the ways in which it could also be made to work for those in disadvantaged communities.
Source: Ewan King, Linda Roberts, Max Toynbee, Tom Sackville and Gemma Bruce, The New 'Neighbourhood Army': The role of community organising in the Big Society, Office of Public Management
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Dec
A report examined the use of community-based forums to promote shared understanding between new migrants and settled groups around neighbourhood, community, and housing issues.
Source: Deborah Phillips et al., Neighbourhood, Community and Housing in Bradford, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2010-Nov
A report summarized the findings of 25 research projects in a programme that was designed to deepen understanding of identity. It looked at how people constructed a sense of identity; what the consequences were of the identity paths chosen; how identity choices intensified or eased social conflict; and what it was like to build an identity in situations of social exclusion.
Source: Alison Gilchrist, Mel Bowles and Margaret Wetherell, Identities and Social Action: Connecting communities for a change, Community Development Foundation
Date: 2010-Oct
Researchers used data from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England to examine the demographic, experiential, and attitudinal predictors of community cohesion. Young people's perception of community cohesion was, first and foremost, a product of their individual characteristics and circumstances: but lower socio-economic groups were more likely to have low cohesion.
Source: Sean Demack, Deborah Platts-Fowler, David Robinson, Anna Stevens and Ian Wilson, Young People and Community Cohesion: Analysis from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE), Research Report RR033, Department for Education
Date: 2010-Sep
An article examined the Welsh Assembly Government's consultation on social cohesion strategy. Strong and cohesive communities were presented in the consultation document as both the cause of, and the solution to, social dislocation, although it was implied that cohesive minority communities were really the problem. 'Mixed' communities were proposed as a remedy – although minority populations were already more ethnically mixed than the majority 'white' population. The very wealthy were the most segregated group: but this was not discussed as a problem. The consultation failed to identify those policies which actively undermined social cohesion. Neither 'community' nor cohesion was clearly defined, and ideas of equality were confused with social integration.
Source: Robert Moore, 'The Welsh Assembly Government's social cohesion strategy: a world without sociology?', Contemporary Wales, Volume 23 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Sep
A report said that traditional approaches to community regeneration that defined communities in solely geographic terms had 'severe limitations'. It called for a new approach to community regeneration based on an understanding of the importance of social networks.
Source: Jonathan Rowson, Steve Broome and Alasdair Jones, Connected Communities: How social networks power and sustain the Big Society, Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce
Links: Report | New Start report | Charity Times report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Sep
An article examined the subject of community empowerment in urban regeneration and planning by: exploring the theoretical literature; reviewing recent policy pronouncements relating to community involvement in England; and discussing a recent case study of a project in London. Community empowerment was always likely to be partial, and contingent on both local circumstances and the wider context.
Source: Nick Bailey, 'Understanding community empowerment in urban regeneration and planning in England: putting policy and practice in context', Planning Practice and Research, Volume 25 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Sep
A report examined how the 'Compact' agreement applied to participatory budgeting projects. It said that public sector and voluntary organizations involving local people in decisions about how money was spent in their area should follow relevant Compact commitments. (The 'Compact' sets out ways of working that the public sector and the third sector should follow whenever they come into contact with each other.)
Source: How the Compact Applies to Participatory Budgeting: An analysis, Commission for the Compact
Links: Report | Charity Times report
Date: 2010-Jul
A report examined the role that the voluntary and community sector played in fostering and promoting strong community cohesion. It also highlighted the role of local government in supporting this through effective partnership, engagement, and funding arrangements.
Source: Sarah Hewes and Alessandra Buonfino with Rushanara Ali and Geoff Mulgan, Cohesive Communities: The benefits of effective partnership working between local government and the voluntary and community sector, Improvement and Development Agency
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jul
A new book examined community work in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, and considered its limits and potential. It said that community work had amounted to 'less than the sum of its parts'.
Source: James DeFilippis, Robert Fisher and Eric Shragge, Contesting Community: The limits and potential of local organizing, Rutgers University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Jul
A report said that successful efforts to support community empowerment resulted in a variety of positive outcomes, in addition to giving people a greater sense of control over their lives.
Source: Thomas Neumark, Engaging with Communities: Lessons from the frontline, Community Development Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jul
A paper examined the role, function, impact, and experience of small community action groups or organizations – including those working at a local level or in communities of interest, such as women's groups or refugee and migrant groups. It considered why people became active within the community and the factors that both helped and hindered community-based action.
Source: Jenny Phillimore and Angus McCabe with Andri Soteri-Proctor and Rebecca Taylor, Understanding the Distinctiveness of Small Scale, Third Sector Activity: The role of local knowledge and networks in shaping below the radar actions, Working Paper 33, Third Sector Research Centre
Links: Paper | Brief | Abstract
Date: 2010-Jul
A report examined ways in which the government could stimulate and support more local responses to big social problems, at manageable cost to the public purse.
Source: Laura Bunt and Michael Harris, Mass Localism: A way to help small communities solve big social challenges, NESTA
Links: Report | NESTA press release
Date: 2010-Jul
An audit report reviewed the data systems used to support delivery of the Labour government's public service agreement 21 – to 'build more cohesive, empowered and active communities' – over the period from 2008.
Source: Review of the Data Systems for Public Service Agreement 21, National Audit Office
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jun
A literature review provided an overview of what was known about the impact of community engagement and empowerment activity within the context of regeneration. Much of the evidence identified was based on qualitative case study research and the views and experiences of those involved in regeneration programmes, rather than a more comprehensive look at the experiences and motivations of those not involved. There was a need for higher-quality evidence to more effectively determine the impact of community engagement, from both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Source: Elinor Findlay, Review of the Impact of Community Engagement Within Regeneration, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Date: 2010-May
A report examined community empowerment using 2008-09 Citizenship Survey data: 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: Eleanor Taylor and Natalie Low, 2008-09 Citizenship Survey Empowered Communities Topic Report, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Apr
An article drew on a study of Communities First, an area-based regeneration policy in Wales, to explore barriers to community empowerment. These barriers included issues of community capacity, institutional capacity, organizational cultures, and regulatory frameworks. Such barriers could prevail even within a highly participative policy framework such as Communities First.
Source: David Adamson, 'Community empowerment: identifying the barriers to "purposeful" citizen participation', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 30 Issue 3/4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Apr
A report said that community development finance institutions created a further £3.57 at a local level for every £1 invested by the government, and played a significant role in helping businesses and social enterprises gain access to finance that would otherwise not be available to them.
Source: GHK, Evaluation of Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs), Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: Report | CDFA blog | New Start report
Date: 2010-Mar
An article examined the impact of European Union funding on the development and formalization of a neighbourhood-based group situated in a regeneration area, as well as the impact of a 'community empowerment network' funded by the United Kingdom government as part of its neighbourhood renewal strategy. External initiatives restricted the autonomy and independence of community-based groups, and were often located within neighbourhoods with little reference to identifying the needs or priorities of residents.
Source: Paul O'Hare, 'Capacity building for community-led regeneration: facilitating or frustrating public engagement?', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 30 Issue 1/2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined the role of voluntary, community, and faith-based organizations in supporting and developing networks of support and influence at the local level. Their significance as centres of influence and authority suggested that their role might have been under-estimated. At the same time, local state organizations were experimenting with devolved street-based or neighbourhood-focused approaches. These twin developments raised issues of accountability and decision-making.
Source: John Diamond, 'Challenging the status quo: the role and place of third sector organisations', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 30 Issue 1/2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined the development of the third sector and its relationship with social inclusion by reference to a specific case study. The capacity of third sector organizations to meet the expectations of local residents and local agencies and professionals represented real challenges. The case study illustrated the way in which such organizations shared the characteristics of small businesses: this raised important questions over the skills and capacities of those managing such projects.
Source: Veronica Coatham and Lisa Martinali, 'The role of community-based organisations in sustaining community regeneration: an evaluation of the development and contribution of Castle Vale Community Regeneration Services (CVCRS)', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 30 Issue 1/2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined efforts to evaluate the performance of a community planning partnership in the east of Scotland. Research suggested that the partnership was working satisfactorily: but outcome evaluation based on focus groups from residents' associations suggested serious difficulties, and perceptions that services had not improved.
Source: Joan Lamie and Rob Ball, 'Evaluation of partnership working within a community planning context', Local Government Studies, Volume 36 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
A paper set out the principles and policies of the opposition Conservative Party on community cohesion. It outlined a vision of a multi-ethnic society free from an 'over-interfering state', with an emphasis on the promotion of shared British values. It said that a British Bill of Rights should be introduced to help achieve national unity. The paper also included responses from academic experts.
Source: Dominic Grieve MP, Conservatism and Community Cohesion, Runnymede Trust
Links: Paper | Runnymede Trust press release
Date: 2010-Jan
An article examined 'broad-based organizing' and the importance given to political activity within community development. Such approaches challenged existing orthodoxy associated with 'partnership' and 'empowerment', and reasserted the centrality of power and politics in promoting change and social reform.
Source: Paul Bunyan, 'Broad-based organizing in the UK: reasserting the centrality of political activity in community development', Community Development Journal, Volume 45 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jan
A report called for the introduction of a community allowance – enabling community organizations to pay local people to do work that strengthened their neighbourhoods without disrupting their benefits.
Source: Naomi Alexander, The Community Allowance: A Step Up for People and Places, CREATE
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jan
A report summarized the outcome of pilot projects in three areas (Manchester, Hertfordshire, and South Tyneside) that were designed to promote well-being and 'resilience'. It recommended prioritizing programmes that (for example): taught children resilience in schools; promoted opportunities for neighbours to get to know one another; provided support for isolated older people to help them create and maintain social networks; and shifted transport and economic policies to encourage lower commuting times and allowed people to spend more time with their families and friends.
Source: Nicola Bacon, Marcia Brophy, Nina Mguni, Geoff Mulgan and Anna Shandro, The State of Happiness: Can public policy shape people's wellbeing and resilience?, Young Foundation and Improvement and Development Agency
Links: Report | IDEA press release | Local Government Chronicle report
Date: 2010-Jan