Niamh
You could check the following web-side:
http://www.cdf.org.uk/animation.html
A good book is :
Keith Popple Analysing Community Work 1997 Open University Press
I personally do not agree with your argument that 'those most excluded need
more intervention/facilitation to develop the capacity to actively engage in
the process'
We see from our research that whilst the government identifies the problems
and priority areas and establishes appropriate policies to combat social
exclusion, approaches to meeting these priorities and objectives on the
ground are weak and underdeveloped at the point of practice. If policies are
imposed in a fairly autocratic way, there is no real space for community
participation. To give people the chance to play their part in shaping
change might be a catchy phrase, but what would it mean actually for people
living in deprived areas? Community development programmes to tackle social
exclusion will be wasted if they can't achieve to meet the needs of local
people and to promote real participation.
In this sense community development becomes a holistic approach looking at
the capacity within communities rather than stressing on interventionist
programmes which contribute to further stigmatise so called 'deprived
communities'.
Hopefully this might be useful
Kind regards
Thilo Boeck
Research fellow
De Montfort University
Faculty of Health and Community Studies
-----Original Message-----
From: Niamh Randall [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 19 September 2002 15:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Community Development
** High Priority **
Hi,
I'm looking for a very broad definition of Community Development having come
up against criticism that it in itself is exclusionary by focusing on those
who are disadvantaged or marginalised. We are arguing that it is an
inclusive approach working with the whole community, however those most
excluded may need more intervention/facilitation to develop the capacity to
actively engage in the process.
Does anyone know of a specific definition which says something roughly like
this?
Kind regards
Niamh Randall
Information & Communications Officer
Merchants Quay Ireland
4 Merchants Quay
Dublin 8
Ph: 6040071
Fax: 6713738
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.mqi.ie www.clubscene.ie
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