Lecture Two Strategies for Community Networking

8/22/2019 Lecture Two Strategies for Community Networking

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ASAAH


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The various strategies outlined below helpscommunity development worker to ensure thatcommunities become more capable of controllingtheir own circumstances and that the communitysector is better able to play a constructive role insociety.

Community Engagement

Community Cohesion

Creating Strong Communities Community Participation

Community Mobilisation


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Community engagement is define asdeveloping and sustaining a workingrelationship between public bodies andcommunity groups so that both understand

and act on the needs or issues that thecommunity experiences.


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Engaging communities in the developmentprocess leads to:

better decision-making

reaching excluded communities mobilising community-based expertise and

resources

sustainable solutions to difficult problems

encouraging ownership by communities empowering communities to address issues

that affect them


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What makes engagement effective; Involving communities at local level,

particularly those that are deprived ormarginalised.

We know from experience and research thatcurrent methods of community engagementdo not properly involve people from a broad

range of backgrounds.


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Too often, engagement is interpreted as littlemore than consultation.

Community Development workers role istherefore helping communities and publicbodies engage better with one another.


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Another strategy for community networkingis to boost community cohesion.

Community cohesion is all about peoplebuilding relationships across perceivedboundaries and encouraging integration onthe basis of mutual respect and social justice.

Community cohesion helps to improve the

capacity and capability of communities tomanage diversity and resolve conflicts.


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Community development worker thereforehave a role in helping people to worktogether to achieve change

Often this involves identifying what peoplehave in common, and so what might helpbind them together, for example problems

with employment or housing


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Community cohesion comprises three maincomponents:

A shared ability to manage diversity and resolveconflicts within and between communities

An approach that recognises that divisions anddifferences within communities are not justabout 'race' and 'religion', but include otheraspects of peoples lives

A concern to tackle the inequalities ofopportunity and outcome that generategrievances and inter-communal tensions


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A strong community is one which people feel

part of, where they feel they have influence overdecisions that affect it and in which there is a

thriving community sector. A strong community is one that is able to identify

its own strengths and vulnerabilities and to takeappropriate action on issues that affect andensure resilience in the face of economic, social

and environmental change.


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What makes a strong community?

Strong communities require strong andindependent community organisations andnetworks which are effectively managed andrun in ways that make a positive contributionto the economic, social and environmental

sustainability of the community.


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Documents

Lecture Two Strategies for Community Networking