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A community-engaged University

Building bridges by taking action

in the communities

Peter Walker

Community Relations

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Community-University partnership builds bridges bytaking action in the communities

Engaging in this way…Develops relationshipsIdentifies community issuesWorks to make a difference to people’s lives

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Overall process 1 Framework to get started2 Programme of work3 Methodology and Analysis4 Theoretical model for action5 Linking back to strategy

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A programme developed together

Programme developed through consultation

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Overview: engage in many ways

Looking acrossProject driven by community feedback

Looking downImmersion in the community offers thechance to engage in its concerns

Widen reach into other communitiesEngage with faculties and students 

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1 Consultation

University staff and Student Union with 10 community groups in Derby and Public and Third sector organisations Outcome

Work to be done with one community

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Most disadvantaged in the City – a forced migrant community

Work to make a difference in that community The Congolese community offered to work on the ‘pilot’

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2 Internship, from community

Build capacity within the community

Bring the community into the University

Constant checking for relevance and understanding 

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3 Steering Group

Identify what to do and take actionCommunity researchBuild a databaseOpen up drop-in centreForm umbrella organisation

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4 Sewing project/Fashion Show

Bring the community together to make garmentsTake the talents in the community – such as fashion designersPresent work done through Fashion Show 

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5 One-to-one research

Community helped design research process

They carried out some of the research

Community gave commitment to research:15 members participated

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6 Times Higher Education submission

for outstanding work in the community

University endorsed and submitted application Opportunity to promote the work nationally

Community representation - three members attended

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7 Plan for the Future meeting

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Have the courage to do new things. Together

The Young People’s group came up with this theme

Community enjoyed the event

Gave valuable support and direction 

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8 Video – isolated women

On the catwalk we could show the extravagant, colourful Congolese culture In the video the women talked about the importance of coming together

To remove isolation, to learn together, to have fun

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9 Sewing project and Congolese Exhibition and Awards Ceremony 2009

An event that made the community proud

Over 250 people came

Certificates for learners

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Recognition for volunteers, leaders and outstanding people in the community

Music, a choir

New hope drop-in centre opened

Fashion show and traditional food

Video on isolated women shown

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10/11 New Hope drop-in centre

Funding provision and setting up the centre

Supporting over 40 community members

Community organised celebration

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12 Case study for Volunteering England

Taken from the conclusion:

‘Motivation is multifaceted and requires a different approach to traditional volunteer management; there is a need to engage volunteers in the strategic direction of the group, and acknowledge the skills they bring

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Personal relationships and commitment to the ethos of the organisation are crucial in gaining trust

A lack of resources makes practical assistance such as the provision of space and small donations invaluable  Faith as a mechanism for both recruitment and mutual support is important but not the sole driver

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The framework underpinning the approach developed and taken by Peter Walker as he develops the role at the University of Derby has been particularly effective in addressing these factors in a way that a more traditional volunteering infrastructure organisation might not’.

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13 What shall we do next?‘I would like to see the community helping other communities. I would like the community to be united and participate in mass in all the meetings. More workshops are going to allow the name of this project to be engraved in this city and across the world’. ‘My dream is to see anyone being able to do such activity at home also in the future’. ‘Don’t want to see this project stopped or failed but to be continued forever and goes abroad’.

‘Children coming along might take part in different activities suchlearning, reading… therefore they need some materials why not to learn sewing project if possible’. ‘PC training, access to various training support (care assistant, driving, etc)’. ‘I wish all the best. My suggestions are to help the community to understand how is English system to go through learning to get a qualification’. ‘To know their rights’.

‘I would like to see the community do together next: to invite other people to join the group and explain other people how things work. Help them to go forward.’ ‘See the community work together next: like the sewing project, I would like the community to do more.’ ‘Provide more help, as they have done here.’ ‘Help all the other African countries.’ ‘Reach more people if possible.’ ‘Organise forums (intellectual & educative), sort of training.’ ‘Help more people (our community), break the barriers of ignorance.’ ‘Project that will help us know how we could help our home country socially and economically’. ‘Projects where people would have access to basic training.’ ‘Learn music (worship).’ ‘More sewing sessions; cooking.’ ‘If we can get some training in different areas that will be good.’‘If we want to build a big fire, we have all to throw our pieces of wood on to it.’ Betty Phoba, Chair, Voice of Congolese Women.

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14 Community Space Derby

Recognise that communities need spaceto meet, to play and to work

Partnership with Derby City Librariesto offer free space to community groups Safe space for therapy

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15 Craft Action project

To reach women from many communities across the city and young people

In the first five months over 600 people attended the project

Membership of over 50 from seven communities – West Indian, Somalian, Iraqi, English, Congolese, Libyan and Iranian

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16 Start of pathway workshops

Identified by the community:

CitizenshipVolunteeringHealth & WellbeingEducationSocial Enterprise

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17 Community review

Part of ongoing review with community:

Promote Art TherapyDance Movement TherapyCommunity take part in Arts FestivalGive feedback, learn and move on

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18 Dissemination:Université Cheikh Anta Diop,Sénégal, Africa The chance to share this work with Colleagues and friends from around the world

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Methodology

Community Development approach

Engage with and bring people together

Build trust

Taking time, cannot be rushed

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Identify community issues

Feedback cycle

Project based activities

Participative Action Research

Ethnographic research 

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Analysis

Taken the different data streams – inductive analysis

Inductive stage

Steering Group

One-to-one research

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Research Diary

Feedback and review meetings

New hope drop-in centre

Bring the data together:

Abductive stage

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High impact change

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Living in the past

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Becoming active

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Taking charge

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A model for action

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11 Supporting strategy By engaging with the communities we serve

Gain new knowledge, new understanding, new insights

Develop new relationships

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Link to University needs for research and student experience in the community Have engagement at the heart of what we do

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