Community Empowerment Good Practice - Big Society & Localism

Useful stuff from the regionalUseful stuff from the regionalempowerment partnershipempowerment partnership

Dominic Murphy

24th May 2011

Localism and the Big SocietyLocalism and the Big Society

Treasure or torture?Treasure or torture?• ‘Governance’ structures• What works?• New products• Assistance

GovernanceGovernance• Neighbourhood Partnerships (Bristol)

• Area Boards (Wiltshire)

Wiltshire Area BoardsWiltshire Area Boards• 18 Areas• Formally part of

Wilshire Council• Multi-agency• Community Area

Partnerships• Community grants

What works?...What works?...and does NOT workand does NOT work

• Community Area Debates• Engaging with young people• Small grants• Switching ‘on’ and ‘off’

– Does NOT work!

Torbay youth film projectTorbay youth film project• Written and directed by

young people• About their lives• Showcase at Blue

Walnut Cinema• Sell out!• Now on DVD and

Facebook

New productsNew products• Participatory budgeting (resource book)• Community researchers• Take Part SW• Practitioner ‘good practice’ learning

Participatory budgetingParticipatory budgeting• SW PB and Localism

guide– Dulverton

mainstreaming PB– S.106 in East Devon– U-Choose– Devonport– Published in autumn

Community researchersCommunity researchers• 13 groups trained to

carry out research in their own communities

• Weston, Torbay, Bristol

• Housing providers, recovering addicts, survivors of domestic abuse

Take Part South WestTake Part South West• Designed to help

engagement between local authorities and citizens– How things work– Freedom of

information– Training info

Empowerment good practiceEmpowerment good practice• Zebra collective• Workshops on:

– Community leadership– Practical ‘tools’ for

engagement– Solution focused

community working– Facilitation methods

• 120 participants in 2010/11

AssistanceAssistance• Speak to us at Creating Excellence

• http://empowermentworks.blogspot.com

• The 29th June event

Final messageFinal message• This cannot be done for nothing• But it needn’t cost much• Process IS as important as outcome

– I’m sorry! I know that doesn’t work for some people!

Thank you for listening!

Dominic Murphy

24th May 2011