Community Development
Communtiy Development is becoming increasingly important as Social Housing Providers realise their responsibilities in this area and also (more importantly) realise that it offers the route to a happy and satisfied customer.
What do I mean? Well, a Housing Association for instance who is managing a large housing estate and spending inordinate amounts of money on Caretaking, Repairs, Tenant Liason, Vandalism Containment, Urban Renewal .............. the list could go on would without doubt find that the money would be better spent on a long term programme of Community Development. Motivating and empowering? facilitating the community to take responsibiltiy for almost ALL these areas is a viable long temr strategy for lower costs, a happier and safer tenant base and most importantly a mature, decision making, responsible community.
Benefits are clear to the Housing Associaltion, the local community and Society - it is a win, win, win situation.
Community Development Strategies
Community Development Strategies might include:
- formal and informal education initiatives; homework clubs, literacy clubs for adults, youth clubs.........
- work options support; voluntary work, community work, work placements..........
- community facilities being improved; doctors surgeries, dentists surgeries, provision of local advice bureaux, counselling services, vocational job initiatives.............
- community action groups??.........
- social outings? beanos :-)
- womens groups, support groups of all kinds
Sustainability in Community Development
Sustainability clearly addresses the long term viability of communities. Strategies are essential to ensure that local communities are actively involved in decision making (and therefore take direct responsibility for) the improvemnet of local facilities and amenities. A sense of ownership of the local environment over a long period of time will lead to a POSITIVE identity with the community rather than the easily recognised "switched off" negative sense of belonging.
Community Development Ideas
Community Development Ideas of my own:
Internet Access Club / Group: There is a huge demand for access to the Internet amongst people of all ages. A cafe / club approach may be appropriate to share and lower the cost of resources. Internet Capable PCs are actually of a very LOW specification and it should be possible to acquire capable machines for little cost and/or FREE.
Club could be structured with formal groups / seminars in morning and open access time in afternoons / evenings.
Mornings courses / formal topics covered could include:
How to:
Safety Online:
Email: Setting up an email address. Managing email. Eliminating Spam.
Webmail: Free webmail providers. Accessing free webmail. Using Hotmail effectively.
Browsing effectively:
Choosing and Using a Web Browser: Mozilla, Opera, IE etc.
Bring people together so they make their own links! I am a great believer in facilitating the opportunity for poeple to support each other. Informal gathering around a theme gives a golden opportunity for people to share skills and experiences of value to their neighbours. For instance having an intenret / computer coffee morning at a tenants association hall will not just encouragee people who are anxious or unknowledgable of ICT but will also involve higher skilled and knowledgable practitioners who will come along to see what is going on. A key part of a support workers role, in my opinion, would be to recognise and welcome these knowledgable people and facilitate their feeding of skills into the community.
Breakfast Club: Informal social breakfast fror local residents. Residents come along on an ad-hoc basis for breakfast at a selected cafe. Opportunities to socialise, enjoy a cooked meal out, access knowledgeable staff / residents. Share skills, experiences, etc...........
Idea: Initial visit several local cafes / eating establishments and then decide on whether best to visit same one each week or go to a different one on a rota system or whatever.
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