Tackling multiple deprivation in communities: considering the evidence Ensuring meaningful community empowerment June 2 nd 2009

Community engagement or empowerment? Engagement involves two-way communication between communities and public agencies, using practical techniques to provide information and generate responses. Often used interchangeably with consultation, participation and involvement Empowerment is the giving of confidence, skills and power to individuals and communities, enabling them to exert greater influence and control over what matters to them

My evidence base ‘In our own words’ - Community empowerment case study research for Scottish Government April 2009 Scoping the region – Community engagement and empowerment research for the N.E England Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership May 2009 Successful Neighbourhoods – UK research and publication for Chartered Institute of Housing and Communities and Local Government October 2007

Community empowerment – why do it? Builds sustainable communities and successful localities Adds real value to regeneration investment Improves public service standards and local delivery Helps ‘glue’ communities together Gives deprived communities a stronger voice Strengthens local democracy

Community empowerment: an overview Recognising the community empowerment spectrum ‘Locking in’ to particular forms of empowerment The politics of empowerment Resource limitations and vulnerability The pace of cultural change

‘Bottom up’: the key to sustainability Overcoming apathy, suspicion and a dependency culture Embedding community leadership Recognising and supporting volunteering Commitment and ‘light touch’ support from external advisors Genuine and practical partnerships

The importance of community development and capacity building The ‘never stop learning’ culture Working at the community’s pace Involving the many, not just the few Networking and learning lessons from others Training for service providers, councillors and officers

Changing organisational cultures Consistent, concerted and committed leadership Co-ordinating approaches across delivery agencies Seeing things from a community perspective Focusing at locality level, without micro-management Stripping out professional jargon Taking risks, sharing power

Changing organisational cultures

Community empowerment – what works? Getting people involved from the start Using informal and participative techniques Identifying and targeting rarely heard groups Developing leadership skills Promoting and sustaining participatory democracy Local councillors as community champions Action plans which outline resident’s agendas for change

Community empowerment – what works? Quick wins around community priorities Community development and independent advice/support Greater community access to resources Balancing grant income with self-sufficiency Partnerships based on equality, trust, and accountability On-going training and support Jargon-free information and regular feedback Community asset transfers

What more do we need to know? How do we recognise an empowered community? How should we map community empowerment activity across local authorities and other public service providers? What should a model community empowerment plan look like? How should we measure cultural change in the public sector, in relation to community empowerment? What are the triggers, drivers, and barriers?