Community Development – a shared responsibility Or Straight A’s for Community Development Alan Barr

Before we start – a straw poll… CD is: – the primary function of my role –CD is a secondary element of another role –I am not directly involved in CD I am paid for the CD work I do I do my CD work as a volunteer I see CD as: –a distinct profession/occupation –an approach that many should take –both I am confident about the future of CD

Adversity and anxiety Persistence of poverty and inequity Public expenditure cuts –direct loss of CD posts in public sector –knock on loss of funding to voluntary and community sectors –differential impact on the most vulnerable Equipment of practitioners –resources for the task –capacity to evidence the case for CD

Ambivalence and ambiguity High profile for CD in public policy Emergence of new language – co-production? CD adding value or compensating for cuts that assault the foundations of a welfare state? But what commitment from and relationship with the state? – naivety, cynicism or genuine and realistic vision? Redesigning or restructuring? Motivation and competence of the widening range of players apparently espousing CD – necessity or positive choice?

Ambivalence and ambiguity The function of CD: helping communities to organise (not organising the community!) But for what and for whom? –a universal approach or targeting positive change in disadvantaged communities? –fostering independent communities or colonising social capital? –promoting cohesion and celebrating difference? –recognising diverse responses to needs but sustaining equity?

Aspiration and Ambition Balancing principle and pragmatism in an inherently contradictory context. What is legitimate adaptation to the conditions in which we find ourselves? What is non-negotiable? How can we forge a level of agreement to take forward an increasingly diversely shared responsibility and a potentially new relationship with the state?

The ABCD Model A shared wealth A caring community A safe community A creative community A citizens’ community QUALITY OF COMMUNITY LIFE DIMENSIONS LiveableSustainableEquitable STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY A Healthy Community Positive action Community organisation Participation & involvement COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT DIMENSIONS Personal Development

Alliances and associations Avoiding precious schisms– tribal, ideological, professional/sectoral etc Clarifying the common denominators of CD. Maximising available resources Local and national mechanisms to integrate activity –Locally driven by genuine community led community planning –Nationally by strengthening CDAS as a voice for the potential of CD and a conduit for evidence of its achievements, SCDN as a network for practitioner support

Accomplishment and achievement Accomplished practitioners need to give attention to their own development and be supported to do it Achieving practitioners need clear vision of the changes they seek and capacity to critically evaluate and analyse performance Established imperatives have not changed!