CLDMS Conference Oct 12 Building a shared understanding of the principles of strengthening communities

Purpose of workshop To raise awareness of the work commissioned by Education Scotland on scoping the concept of a set of standards for Community Capacity Building To engage in dialogue about the findings to generate CLDMS feedback on ‘what next?’ To discuss the key role of CLD within CCB strategic development and practice implementation

Background to the commission Communities increasingly a focus within public policy CCB weakest of 3 CLD national priorities (pre-new strategic guidance) Discussions with people involved in CCB held in 2011 highlighted the need to understand the policy implications for CCB more widely

Purpose of the commission Engage across sectors to identify what is required in respect of achieving a coherent understanding and approach to CCB Explore the feasibility of developing a set of national standards (based on experience of the National Standards for Community Engagement) or other resources Identify key features of a set of standards, or alternative resources, to support CCB

Methods Over 3 months engage with key stakeholders at policy, practice and activist level; Focus groups Targeted 1:1 interviews Online survey 94 participants, mainly face to face Regeneration, PSR, analytical services, public health, safety, reshaping care, HMIE, COSLA, Improvement Service, SCA, Poverty Alliance, DTAS, CLD SC, SFHA…

Our definition of community capacity building… “Development work that strengthens the ability of community organisations and groups to build their structures, systems, people and skills, so that they are better able to define and achieve their objectives engage in consultation and planning, manage community projects take part in partnerships and community enterprises” (Steve Skinner Building Community Strengths)

Discussion Universal acknowledgement of the importance of action to strengthen communities Universal agreement that there is not ‘a sufficiently clear and consistent understanding of what CCB involves across communities and public services’ (some said, diverse area – is this inevitable?)

Discussion continued… Language is an issue – or is it? Too much jargon, implication of deficit, need different language for different people, language is a distraction from the real issues Some difficulty with the notion of ‘standards’ – who would they be for? Would this lead to a ‘tick box exercise? Did the NSfCE make any difference? Do we need more guidance? Could this be too abstract? Do we need something more practical? Do we need an affirmation of values?

Some views… Need to link CCB with end outcomes (caution...) Focus of initiative should not be on specialist CCB workers, but planners, or communities themselves How would they be used? To change ideas, build consensus, attract resources, achieve higher quality interventions? Principles, not standards Support materials, links to other resources, especially on measurement and evaluation Process of development is key

Our recommendations National dialogue and consensus building process on key actions Development of a statement of principles Involve communities, and practitioners and strategists, in peer learning to define needs and expectations based on real experiences Process must inform any new guidance

Developing policy and legislative landscape CLD Strategic Guidance; ‘stronger, more resilient, supportive, influential and inclusive communities’ Likelihood of statutory instrument for CLD Achieving a Sustainable Future; emphasis on community led regeneration Public Services Reform in response to Christie Public Health; assets based approaches, co-production, person centred care, collaboratives Proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill

Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill - responses “Community Engagement Plans must include a clear recognition that aspirations cannot be implemented without the availability of community capacity building/community development support where needed, and a commitment to making this possible” (CLDMS) “Community empowerment cannot succeed unless there is a clear role for community capacity building in the legislative framework” (SCDC)

Recognising different levels of community capacity building With a community whose members have not yet fully recognised their common interests and where community infrastructure is limited: to help bring people together to establish stronger social networks and to help them to organise around the issues which are important to them With informal groups, or organisations which are already established but which wish to achieve more: to enable them to become better organised and more effective and to achieve what they aspire to With well-established organisations which wish to extend their reach: to enable them to plan and deliver their activities effectively, build independent and sustainable assets and/or operate as recognised co-producers of local services and outcomes.

For discussion; In the light of new policy guidance and emerging legislation, what is CLD’s key role in cross sector CCB strategic planning and practical implementation? What level is CCB currently operating at in your area (and across Scotland more generally?) What level does it need to operate at?

For discussion continued… What do we need to support real and meaningful change towards building strong and influential communities? (National and local level support) What actions should Education Scotland take forward, building on the work done to date?