Communities R UsRichard Edwards

Communities R Us

• Why?• What is it?• What are the applications?

Why

• Statistics give us local intelligence, but:– Its out of date– tells a story about

problems not people

• To grow engagement based upon people’s lives not institutions needs

• To challenge stereotypical views of people and the places they live in

Communities R Us: What is it?

• It changes attitudes and so improves local decision making

• Creates local networks & promotes local talent

• Grows & promotes civil actions, encourages volunteering, participation

• Creates collaborative opportunities for people & agencies to work together

Crucially it:

• Stops neighbourhoods being seen as problems to which government/ agencies need to fix the problems

Rather• Its shows neighbourhoods as places full of

skills, talents and energy

Communities R US!

• Tells us– What people are interested

in and their level of skills in those interests

– Level & Type civic actions – Job skills– Type and time spent

volunteering– How people use ITC – Level, type & time spent

caring for family, neighbours etc.

Trick is how to Apply Communities R Us as a tool for agencies and neighbourhoods.