Community capacity building

Neil LambertVoluntary Action Charnwood

IdentityWhere do I live? Identify your

community by:- Place name – village/estate People who are members Number of people <100, ’00s, > Size of area – district, region Interest – e.g. birdwatchers

Stronger communities strategy within SCSseeks to empower communities to Define themselves, so that members

identify with each other Recognise other communities Engage effectively with the authorities

who plan and provide public servicesIn order to improve the lives of everyone

in Leicestershire

Community development Social justice Participation Equality Learning Co-operation Environmental justice – action to

protect and improve

Types of change DOING something new or

differently Spending more money Making more physical effort STOPPING doing something,

whether benefits apparent or not

Campaigning – one-off or longer-term May not require formal records Could reach more people by direct

personal contact, including in their own groups

E.g. signing up to pledge Time intensive but more success

Set up a new group Function – purpose, why, what,

aims, activities, duration, outcomes, impact

Form – charity (constitution), company (M+A), loose terms of reference (simple statement)

Publicity to join; and to achieve aims/outcomes/impact

Leading & Organising Charismatic leader Motivator or Persuader Direct contact at local level Coordination in communities Getting things done through

meetings Actions louder than words

Disciplines Record keeping Registration and compliance Cash and banking Accountability for funding Lack of support Failure to achieve

Checklist Ask whether a group is needed What purpose/aims? Short-term? What activities and members? How will you judge success? How will others judge success? Assess effort required, and risk,

against benefits achievable