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    These News Bulletins have previously been circulated to CDAS members 

    June 2008

    ‘What Community Development Does’

    The CDAS pamphlet ‘What Community Development Does: a short guide for decision makers to how it achieves results’ is now being widely circulated. Every MSP should have received a copy, and every Councillor in Scotland an electronic copy. Many local partnerships and networks are circulating it. 

    We are still keen to get requests from member organisations for copies to circulate to appropriate contacts. If you have circulated it in electronic form, it would be helpful if you could let Peter Taylor know.

    Information from Members Meeting, 18 June

      Main discussion

    Charlie McConnell welcomed members to the new headquarters of the Carnegie UK Trust and explained its role as a proactive, developmental organisation.

    Morven Masterton introduced the work of the Trust’s Democracy and Civil Society programme, based upon an enquiry into the future of civil society in the UK and Ireland. The Trust would be seeking to enhance the capability of civil society organisations to understand and influence decision making.

    The enquiry had identified the following main “fault-lines” in civil society:

    • The challenge of sustainability
    • Growing isolation of the poorest
    • Social cohesion under pressure
    • Shifting activism and increasing obstacles to engaging with civil society
    • Traditional political engagement on the wane
    • Application of technology
    • Voluntary and community organisations lose their distinctiveness
    • Diminishing arenas for public deliberation
    • Marginalisation of dissent

    And these 'burning issues'

    • Civil society and growing pressure on global resources
    • Spaces for meaningful conversation
    • Civil society and the media
    • The marginalisation of dissent
    • Bridging groups in a more diverse society.

    Nick Wilding spoke about the Trust’s Commission for Rural Community Development. The Charter for Rural Communities was issued in 2007. The Trust was seeking to create communities of practice to implement it. HIE would host one on sustainable energy. A Rural Action Research Programme was being funded in conjunction with the Big Lottery Fund.  

    Points emphasised in discussion included:

    • Carnegie’s desire to build partnerships in all the devolved jurisdictions of the UK
    • The need for new skills for community workers to deal with rapid change
    • The development of new, diverse leadership in communities.

    Members’ Information exchange

    The Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland had commissioned research to identify and highlight examples of good community engagement practice; and on the funding of the voluntary equality sector. A conference on equality in rural areas had generated considerable interest and momentum . 

    CHEX was looking at the economic evaluation of community-led health work; and (with SCDC) was involved in the ‘Meeting the Shared Challenge’ programme of capacity building in all sectors for community-led health.

    Alasdair MacKinlay from the Scottish Government (Regeneration) reported on the development of work on ‘community empowerment’. Contrary to some suggestions that have been made, Ministers did not intend to give complete control of this policy to local government. A COSLA community engagement working group was meeting [see below] but this had, he felt, made a realistic assessment of the role of local government. Learning and support materials would be developed.

    Learning Connections reported on:

    • Its forthcoming seminar explaining the work it had commissioned on the outcomes of Community Learning and Development
    • The progress of joint Scottish Government/COSLA work on Early Years, which was showing recognition of the central role of community development
    • The availability of the ‘Respect’ case studies in Community Capacity Building from across the North East of Scotland, which they had supported
    • The likelihood of further work on community capacity building.

    Laurie Bidwell reported that the Universities were looking at developing work-based routes into CLD. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education had asked them to provide guidance on this.

    SURF had circulated a report of its discussion on community development and ‘a mentally flourishing Scotland’. Forthcoming events would look at Urban Regeneration Companies, Football and Regeneration, and there would be a lecture by Harry Burns on the impact of deprivation on health and well-being. A bi-national Forum would be held in Berwick.

    SURF drew attention to the fact that after a period of uncertainty the Scottish Government appeared to have endorsed the ‘hub’ initiative, announced by the previous government, which was to be a new joint venture between the public and private sectors designed ‘to support the delivery of accessible, seamless, quality services from single access points based in local communities.’ SURF would be following this closely.

    Norman Bonney reported that the Association of Scottish Community Councils was discussing how we can build development based on human capital.

    Graham Johnstone reported that the December meeting of CLDMS would be a seminar on community capacity building.

    Fiona Garven reported on SCDC activities, including:

    • There was growing interest in the VOICE tool for planning community engagement
    • Scottish Community Action Research Fund projects are drawing to a close, and SCDC would be drawing lessons from the programme
    • A ‘generic’ version of LEAP is about to be published.

    CDAS activities

    In addition to activities reported elsewhere, it was agreed that CDAS’ Action Plan for its proposed three years of Scottish Government funding should centre on a systematic examination of the contribution of community development to each of the Scottish Government’s five strategic objectives, focusing on one or two each year. In the current year the priorities for attention will be ‘Safer and Stronger’ and ‘Greener’.  

    CDAS has made comments on the Scottish Government Discussion Paper on Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland. They state some general principles both about how community development can contribute to the actual process of tackling poverty and disadvantage, and to supporting the effective engagement of disadvantaged groups.  CDAS hopes to help the Poverty Alliance to organise a Forum on the community development contribution to these issues in the autumn.

    Community Empowerment

    As we have mentioned, COSLA has established a Working Party of elected members and others (including Stewart Murdoch, Chair of CDAS) to take forward the joint statement and action plan agreed between COSLA and Scottish Government and propose ways of implementing it at the local level. Its proceedings will be reported to COSLA’s Community Well-being and Safety Executive Group. Further information on its remit, membership etc (not apparently on the COSLA site yet) has been provided by Local People Leading.

    Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan

    The Scottish Government has published its Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan. This is very much about the economic role of the Third Sector, whilst recognising that this contributes to ‘solidarity, cohesion and sustainability’. The overall objectives of the Action Plan are:

    • Opening markets to an enterprising third sector
    • Investing more intelligently in the sector
    • Promoting social entrepreneurship
    • Investing in skills, learning and leadership across the third sector
    • Providing support for business growth
    • Raising the profile of enterprise in the third sector
    • Developing the evidence base

    However Local People Leading comments that the strategy “does not contain one reference to Scotland`s community sector”.

    In a linked development, the Scottish Government will make available a £30 million Scottish Investment Fund from September 1 to help enterprising Third Sector organisations. The fund is aimed at already fairly well Third Sector organisations with the potential to grow their turnover or become financially sustainable – they must have been trading successfully, partly through income generation, for at least three years.

    Health Inequalities Task Force

    The Scottish Government has published the report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities.  In its comments on the report the Community Health Exchange (CHEX) finds many positive features:

    • there is much within the report relating to the underlying causes of inequalities
    • one recommendation states that “the Government should protect current resources targeted in at reducing health inequalities and consider the need for further investment in its longer term spending plans”
    • another confirms that “Fairer Scotland Fund resources deployed by community planning partnerships should contribute to health outcomes and improved healthy life expectancy” 

    However (in a personal view) I would suggest one note of caution. The section of the report which appears to be intended to cover the contribution of communities and community development is headed “Third Sector contribution”. It consists mostly of two case studies. One (of Fife Community Health Project) mentions in passing that the community development workers involved are employed by the local authority. The other is of the Aberdeen Healthy Living Network, a network of many organisations, but where I believe that the same may apply to the support staff involved.
     
    It would appear therefore that neither of the examples given would themselves be able to benefit directly from the only recommendation made in this section of the report. This says “Funding for Third Sector organisations through the Government’s new Scottish Investment Fund [see above] should support Third Sector action in the priority areas identified in the Task Force’s recommendations, and this should be contained in the criteria for the Fund”.

    However, the report proposes that a full implementation plan be drawn up by the end of 2008 “which gives more practical detail about how these recommendations will be turned into action and who will be responsible at both national and local levels”. We hope that this will reflect the contribution of community development work at all levels and in all sectors.

    Community Energy Scotland

    Community Energy Scotland will take over from the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company in July 2008 and will work across the whole country. Its purpose is to build confidence, resilience and wealth at community level in Scotland through sustainable energy development.

    Climate Challenge Fund

    This new Scottish Government fund makes grants available to empower communities to take action to reduce their carbon footprint and make a real difference to the local and national environment.

    Citizen Engagement Professional Training

    The University of Strathclyde is launching a ‘comprehensive, internationally recognised skills development programme’ in the techniques for effective citizen engagement. The materials are based on the experience of the International Association for Public Participation (www.iap2.org).

    The programme offers two pathways: the full 5-day certificate course for practitioners and decision-makers, or a 1 or 2 day suite of modules. 

    Community Councils on the web

    The website of the Association of Scottish Community Councils, www.ascc.org.uk, is currently being revamped but should be online again soon.

    Meanwhile Norman Bonney, Vice-President of ASCC, has developed a blog with reflections on measures to enhance the role of community councils in community development and the local democratic process.

    Publications:

    A Guide to Engaging Muslim Communities

    The Chartered Institute of Housing has published a ‘Guide to Engaging Muslim Communities’ about engaging either social housing tenants or people mainly living in older, owner-occupied neighbourhoods. The emphasis is on engaging with poorer communities that are likely to be socially excluded and may be directly affected by housing or regeneration programmes.

    Community Engagement and Community Cohesion

    A Joseph Rowntree Foundation report suggests that more needs to be done to enable new migrant communities to be heard and ensure resources are allocated openly and fairly.  It finds that community development support is an important factor in involving new communities, as part of wider strategies to promote cohesion. It provides ‘illustrations of promising practices’, but point out that these depend upon ‘the development and implementation of community development strategies’, which ‘need to be resourced via community development professionals’.

    Community Development Training in Europe

    CDF has made available for free download ‘Training and Learning for Community Development in Europe’,  the report of Grundtvig 4, a seminar group working across 17 countries, assessing the challenges facing community development. It:

    • Demonstrates the common ground that can be found in community development training and learning, once differences are overcome
    • Celebrates the unique contribution community development can bring to lifelong learning
    • Provides an overview of community development institutions across Europe, including contact details.

    Importance of neighbours for older people

    CDF and Age Concern have published a new book 'Neighbouring and older people: An enfolding community?’

    Role of Housing Associations in Community Regeneration

    The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has produced a report “Making Places Work: Future directions for the role of Housing Associations in Community Regeneration in Scotland” by Colin Armstrong and Nick Hopkins. On the subject of community empowerment, conclusions include that:

    • Many housing associations think community empowerment is central to what they do.
    • Current involvement includes building the skills and confidence of activists, assisting communities in exercising power and promoting broad based participation.
    • There was not a good understanding amongst other regeneration stakeholders of housing associations’ involvement in community empowerment that extended beyond their traditional housing role.
    • Housing associations are keen to do more community empowerment work in the future.         


    Events:

    InCLuDe LGBT Young People

    There may still just be time to sign up for LGBT Youth Scotland’s national conference, which will be held on the 4th July at Westpark conference centre in Dundee.  This conference will bring together CLD professionals from across Scotland to explore the benefits of actively including LGBT young people in their service provision, and to give practical advice and support on how this can be achieved. There is an on-line booking form.

    Community Development & the Intercultural Society

    As part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, a range of organisations including the International Association for Community Development, will host a conference in Dublin Castle on 6/7 November to examine the role and contribution of community development in the creation of an intercultural society

    CDF conference on empowerment


    CDF's 2008 conference, in Birmingham on 21 October, is about demonstrating community development's contribution to empowerment practice

    Community capacity building – request for examples


    Professor Gary Craig (Professor of Social Justice at the University of Hull and Chair of IACD) is doing some work for the OECD on the concept of community capacity building, looking at ‘how policy actors in public, private and non-governmental sectors develop and apply social policies for so-called excluded or deprived communities with an explicit focus on community capacity-building’. He is looking for examples in particular from housing, health and regeneration.   He wants to look at how communities (however defined) are encouraged to participate with a view to them developing the knowledge, skills and the ability to shape these policies. He is happy to receive any material you think may be relevant at G.Craig@hull.ac.uk .

    May 2008

    ‘What Community Development Does’

    The CDAS pamphlet ‘What Community Development Does: A short guide for decision makers to how it achieves results’ has been printed and will be distributed shortly, after an official launch.

    Controversy over community empowerment

    Stephen Maxwell, Associate Director of SCVO, who spoke at last autumn’s CDAS conference on community empowerment, has launched a trenchant attack on the Scottish Government’s recent announcement on the subject (see previous Bulletin). In an article headed ‘the demise of community empowerment’ he argues that “The disappointment is not that the government is intent on doing what it can to strengthen communities' voice in Community Planning Partnerships. Rather it comes from the government's failure to acknowledge that engagement in public sector led structures can never be a substitute for giving communities their own power to act”.

    Management information systems for CLD

    As part of its work to build the effective use of performance information across Community Learning and Development, Learning Connections undertook research into the management information systems in use by organisations involved in delivering CLD.Following on from that Learning Connections commissioned a resource which would highlight good practice and help those who are in the process of developing management information systems.  This resource is now available on their website. The resource is aimed at any individual who has some responsibility for management of CLD activities. The web page also includes a link to a report from Rocket Science (the consultants for the project) outlining the process of developing the resource and setting out recommendations.Learning Connections would be grateful for comments on this resource and any examples of how it is being used to improve management information systems.  Email learningconnections@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

    Early Years Framework

    The Scottish Government and COSLA have issued a joint statement ‘Early Years and Early intervention’, which sets out their joint approach and describes how early years and early intervention support the national performance framework, and proposes a list of tasks to be taken forward.One of the 4 task groups now working on this is focusing on: "Creating communities that provide a supportive environment for children and families"

    Top Tips for engagement

    The Glasgow Disability Alliance has published ‘Are we being served?’ A ‘Top Tips guide to involving disabled people’.  The toolkit can be used to help deliver effective community engagement, and is designed to give practical effect to the National Standards.

    Neighbourhood Identity over Time and Place

    Douglas Robertson, James Smyth and Ian McIntosh of the University of Stirling have studied the historical development of neighbourhood identity by comparing three contrasting areas of Stirling (Raploch, Riverside and Randolph Road). Their Report, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, suggests that identity is established at a very early stage of each neighbourhood’s history, and has been resilient to change. However external perceptions of a neighbourhood’s identity were often stronger and more of a caricature than those held by people who lived there. Notions of community were constructed through familiar, everyday social interactions within various localised settings, which were often enough to give people a powerful sense of place, attachment and belonging.

    Dormant bank accounts

    The Scottish Government has begun its consultation process on the priorities for deploying the funds to be collected from Dormant Bank Accounts.  The sums available may be as much as £40 million in the first year and about £4 million year on year thereafter.  The money will be distributed by the Big Lottery Fund.  Full details of public consultation events will be announced shortly. Contact: Carol Elder (carol.elder@scotland.gsi.gov.uk)

    Campaign for a Community Allowance

    A new campaign has been launched by the CREATE Consortium, to establish a Community Allowance in the UK benefits system. This would enable community organisations to pay people to do work that strengthens their community without it affecting any of their benefits. http://www.communityallowance.org

    DTAS Conference

    The Development Trusts Association Scotland is holding its conference in St Andrews on 15 and 16 June. Themes to be covered during conference are:
    • Coastal communities – new opportunities
    • What’s been happening to the Common Good?
    • Powerful partnerships – development trusts & housing associations
    • Breathing new life into old buildings
    • Healthy living, sport & young people
    • Food for thought – a focus on tourism
    • Community response to climate change

    Learning Disability Week

    A special effort is being made to draw attention to Learning Disability Week, 16- 22 June, with a national conference and an Action Pack on organising local activities.

    Bill on Empowerment in England

    Communities Secretary Hazel Blears announced early details of a new Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration Bill for England, expected later this year. Three new rights are proposed:
    • A right to ask for a stronger say on spending decisions that affect communities.
    • A right to ensure councils consider the sale or transfer of under-used properties, lands or parks to local community groups, co-ops and social enterprises.
    • A right to force a debate on specific local issues onto the council agenda.

    Future of Community Voices

    Scottish Ministers have given approval for the Scottish Government to fund a successor to the Community Voices Network for the next 3 years. It will be focussed especially on supporting community activists and volunteers to build their knowledge, skills, capacity and expertise on community regeneration practice and policy by providing:
    • Learning opportunities on a range of topics relevant to community regeneration through a dedicated programme of events
    • Opportunities and share experience across Scotland.

    Regeneration Briefing

    Partners in Regeneration have put together this useful short summary of the current Scottish Government’s policies in areas relevant to regeneration.

    Community development and mental health

    In June, the Community Development Foundation will publish ‘Connect and Include’, an exploratory study of community development and mental health. It will include a brief review of literature relating to relevant policy and practice, a survey and 39 interviews including community development practitioners, people with experience of mental ill-health, and staff from mental health services.

    International Reader

    To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Community Development Journal Gary Craig, Keith Popple and Mae Shaw have been commissioned to edit ‘Community Development in Theory and Practice: An International Reader’, a representative sample of the best writing from the Journal, and to write a new introductory essay. The thirty chapters demonstrate the richness and diversity of community development theory and practice in all parts of the world.
    April 2008

    Announcement on community empowerment

     The Scottish Government has made an announcement on the progress being made with the Empowering Communities agenda.  As a result of the views put forward in the series of discussion events held in October to December last year, the Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed to issue a joint commitment to ensuring that communities have a degree of control and influence over the things that matter to them.  This reads:“We are delighted that for the first time in Scotland, central and local government are making an explicit joint commitment to helping local people to play their full part in making Scotland flourish.  For the Scottish Government and COSLA empowering communities is not jargon, it is a key element of what we are both about.  This is an agenda we share with colleagues from across the public, voluntary and community sectors. A key element of our joint commitment is to be clear about what community empowerment is and why it matters. We see community empowerment as a process where people work together to make change happen in their communities by having more power and influence over what matters to them.  We also each believe in the central representative role of councillors in invigorating local democracy, and we see the process of community empowerment as a key way of complementing this.  In getting to this point we have listened to a wide range of people and we have responded to what we heard.  So we are seeking to provide strategic leadership.  We are not launching new short term initiatives and we will celebrate the vibrant work that is already being done across the country.  To support this high level commitment, we will also develop an Action Plan in partnership with the community and voluntary sectors over the coming months.  Based on feedback we have received to date the broad outline of that plan will cover:
    • Highlighting examples of community empowerment;
    • Providing direct capacity building investment to community groups;
    • Investing in an integrated programme to develop skills, learning and networking in relation to community empowerment and engagement;
    • Developing support to help communities own assets;
    • Investing in improved support for community capacity building;
    • Working with Audit Scotland to agree how to assess progress on empowerment.
    Today’s joint commitment is a starting point for a long term journey, and we look forward to continuing to work together and with communities as it develops.”

    VOICE – Visioning Outcomes in Community Engagement

    The Scottish Community Development Centre has launched VOICE as part of its ongoing work to support the implementation of the National Standards for Community Engagement on behalf of the Scottish Government. It is a planning and recording tool, using an MS Access® database, designed to assist individuals and organisations to design and deliver effective community engagement. A further description is on their website. For more information on how to get involved contact them on 0141 248 1924 or info@scdc.org.uk .

    'Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland'

    The discussion document 'Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: The Future of Mental Health Improvement in Scotland 2008-2011' was issued by the Scottish Government as a consultation to determine the future direction of mental health improvement for 2008-11, focusing on what Local Authorities, NHS Boards and other key stakeholders can do to support the agenda.  The responses received are available here.
    Some CDAS members recently attended a discussion hosted by the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum on the ongoing issues. A note based on these discussions will be circulated soon.

    More on Single Outcome Agreements

    Useful materials explaining the new Single Outcome Agreement system can be found in the presentations made to a recent meeting of the Community Planning Network – look for example at the slides by Jon Harris of COSLA, amongst others.

    Consultation on ‘Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation’

    The Scottish Government has extended until 30 June 2008 the deadline for responses to the discussion paper 'Taking Forward the Government Economic Strategy: A Discussion Paper on Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland'. 
    The Poverty Alliance is working with GCVS and EVOC to encourage voluntary organisations (and others) to respond to the consultation. Two half day seminars will be held on 21st May (Edinburgh) and 22nd May (Glasgow). Please let Peter Kelly peter.kelly@povertyalliance.org  know if you wish to attend. For further information on the consultation visit http://cci.scot.nhs.uk/Publications/2008/02/01150409/0 

    New Light on Adult Literacy and Numeracy

    A Scottish Government report  ‘New Light on Adult Literacy and Numeracy  in Scotland’ was published earlier this year (a summary is also available). It says little about approaches to increasing literacies, being principally intended to present factual data. It is interesting if depressing to note the new data that shows that men and women with lower literacy and numeracy levels (SCQF Access Level skills) ‘were generally less engaged with their community, being less involved in clubs, groups or activities or to hold any political interest’.

    Rowntree reports

    Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports have been published on:
    • ‘Routes and barriers to citizen governance’, looking at the structural, environmental, cultural and personal factors that encourage different communities to get involved or prevent them, based on experience in the English Local Strategic Partnerships
    • ‘Community empowerment in practice: lessons from Communities First’, looking at the experience of that Welsh programme. This emphasises the need for support to community members to develop the skills required, multiple routes to participation and clearer links between strategic partnerships at ward level and those at the local authority level.

    Forty Years On

    At the recent CDAS Seminar Chair Stewart Murdoch paid tribute to the forty years of contributions to community development by Alan Barr, who has just retired as Co-Director of the Scottish Community Development Centre (and from the CDAS Management Group). Rumour has it that after a few months’ well-deserved break he intends to be very much in evidence again, on an allegedly part-time basis.

    Scottish Government:  Housing and Regeneration

    A guide to the structure of the Housing and Regeneration section of the Scottish Government since 1 April (including how responsibility for community empowerment sits within this) is available here.

    Scottish Parliament seeks evidence on community policing

    An inquiry into community policing in Scotland is to be undertaken by the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament. They are looking for evidence on good practice, the different mechanisms used to engage local communities in policing, etc etc. More details here.

    Support for community gardens

    The Big Lottery Fund has announced a grant of nearly half a million pounds to the Growing Communities in Scotland partnership. This includes the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, the Scottish Therapeutic Gardening Network (Trellis) and the Allotments Regeneration Initiative (ARI).  The funds will allow it to provide support to at least 350 community, therapeutic and allotment gardens across Scotland. The three partners will be able to work together to help projects develop new ideas, knowledge and skills so they can offer more consistent services.

    Community Empowerment – English discussions

    Following Communities Secretary Hazel Blears’ announcement on 5 March of a new Empowerment White Paper, the Department of Communities and Local Government is inviting groups to run their own local events on Empowerment.
    It has jointly produced a ‘Community Power Pack’  with suggestions on how to run an event, advice for facilitators and organisers and detailed information about empowerment issues.  You can read the launch document about the White Paper on the Communities and Local Government website.

    CLDMS Conference

    The Community Learning and Development Managers Scotland Conference takes place from 20th to 22nd May at the Seamill Hydro, on the theme of ‘Capacity to Improve: developing a quality improvement culture in CLD’. Day delegate rates are available. Contact Fiona Galbraith, Community Learning and Development, St John’s Primary School Base, Morrison Avenue, Stevenston KA20 4HH  01294 468035.

    Developing Community Assets

    A free event is being held in Glasgow for community development staff working with community groups who may have an idea or a building they want to develop or may be considering applying to the Big Lottery Fund’s Growing Community Assets Fund. The event is on Thursday 8 May 2008, 9.30am to 3.45pm at The Albany Learning and Conference Centre, 44 Ashley Street, Glasgow G3 6DS. For more information or to obtain a booking form, please contact Jackie on 0141 425 2917 or jackie.donaldson@ceis.org.uk .
    Archive of past bulletins
    Please keep sending me items for circulation to other CDAS members

    Peter TaylorPolicy & Development Consultant,
    Community Development Alliance Scotland,
    56, Turnberry Road
    Glasgow G11 5AP
    0141 586 7588
    peter@pdtaylor.com

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