Developing social actionBuilding the capacity of people to generate change

Contents

• Why is social action important?

• What is social action?

• What isn’t social action?

• The value of peer approaches?

• How we can support it?

The impact of Social Action

What is social action?

practical action in the service of others, which is:

•carried out by individuals or groups of people working together.

•not mandated and not for profit.

•done for the good of others - individuals, communities and/or society.

What isn’t social action

• Using volunteers to substitute for workers

• Only formal volunteering

• A way to cut costs

Towpath – a social action approach• Community grants scheme funded by

LSC

• 67 grants of approx. £9500

• Over 1000 disengaged learners supported

• Bringing people closer to employment

• Looked After Chickens

The value of peer approaches• Shared problems

• Shared understanding

• Solidarity

• Not being alone

• But… peers aren’t always people in identical situations

GMCVO support

• Accredited skills in volunteer management• Skills assessment• Tailored support guide• Event in February• Working alongside organisations contracted

by SMBC• Supporting organisations in transition to help

service users to develop social action approaches