Under embargo until: 00.01hrs on 11 March 2008
Communities First needs to do more to ensure local people’s input achieves change
The Welsh Assembly Government’s programme to improve living conditions and prospects for people in the most disadvantaged communities across Wales - otherwise known as Communities First - has been successful in getting community members involved in the planning and delivery of local solutions to local problems. But it hasn’t led to communities influencing service providers or achieving significant change. This is according to research published today (11 March) by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
The report, Community empowerment in practice: lessons from Communities First, found that community members responded positively to the opportunities for participation provided by Communities First, and that their confidence in their abilities increased as they began to recognise their own role in promoting positive change in their communities.
The research also found that community members brought varied skills and knowledge to the partnership process but required support to develop the skills required for effective partnership working. Levels of community engagement were increased by providing multiple options for participation. Highly localised forums widened community empowerment (the ability to participate in the decisions made by key public agencies which have an impact on their community) and helped to support community members of the partnerships.
However, the researchers also found that there was little evidence of community influence over statutory members of Communities First partnerships. Nor was there evidence of a significant effect on the way statutory agencies prioritised actions and expenditure in the Communities First partnership area. Community members rarely held the key role of chairperson.
The research suggests that clearer links are needed between strategic partnerships at ward level and those at the local authority level. Local Strategic Partnerships or Local Service Boards are not sufficiently local or connected to the community to allow effective community involvement.
Dave Adamson, co-author of the report, said: "Government will need to provide incentives and sanctions to promote a greater statutory sector response to processes of community empowerment. Consideration should be given to giving specific functions and resources to local partnerships which they can control. The continued commitment of community members will depend on ‘purposeful’ community involvement."
Notes to Editors
- The report, Community empowerment in practice: lessons from Communities First by Dave Adamson and Richard Bromiley of the University of Glamorgan is published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
- A Findings summary is available.
- The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. It supports a research and development programme that seeks to understand the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.
Issued by Charlotte Morris, JRF Senior Media Relations Manager: 01904 615 919 / 020 7278 9665 / charlotte.morris@jrf.org.uk
