Community capacity building takes so many different forms, linked by the common aim of strengthening the collective ability of the community. Here are just a few examples of what capacity building can involve, but many more are included throughout the guidance.
The starting point for community capacity building is within communities themselves. LEAP (2002) identifies the five areas of community learning and development work that support community capacity building:
- Working with communities to assess their needs and plan for change.
- Supporting the development of skills and confidence of activists and organisations.
- Promoting broad-based participation in community affairs.
- Assisting communities to exercise power and influence.
- Assisting communities to provide or manage services.
Within all the above areas, effective capacity building work involves the ability to:
- focus on the community perspective, its needs and issues, with a particular emphasis on socially excluded groups
- commission or undertake community-based action research
- support community representatives/volunteers
- strengthen community groups, organisations and networks
- encourage participation, engagement and involvement
- establish or advise on effective forums, systems, or structures
- improve quality and impact through networking, exchanging, and communicating
- commission or provide training, consultancy, review, and planning advice
- provide project development and support, including accessing advice and support on ICT, organisational, financial and personnel management, and funding and resource attraction.
Example 1: Mill O' Mains Residents Association
The Mill O'Mains Residents' Association in Dundee was set up in the early 1990s. The group has been supported by a community worker since the late 1990s. In 1996, the association obtained charitable status, as it work had expanded into community and social issues.
The Association has established 'satellite groups' to focus on particular topic of interest within the community. These are open both to members of the Association, and others. Through this approach, the Association has managed to successfully involve approximately 90 per cent of the community. Many people who are not members of the Association have been interested in getting involved in the satellite groups.
The satellite groups have achieved a lot. For example, the 'Pavilion Management Sub Group' was set up to manage the conversion of a bowling pavilion into a community centre. This community centre is now managed by the community. Another sub group on Land Use is working with architects to design a masterplan for regeneration.
The Association and satellite groups have been supported by a community worker and a tenant participation officer. Support includes work with both individuals and groups, focusing on training and development. There are both individual and group learning plans in place. Training and development work has been wide ranging, including finance, employment and practical management skills.
Key to the success of the project has been the support provided by the community worker, who can work with both individuals and groups. This makes meetings and debates more constructive and productive.
'It just shows you that when you have the resource, the difference you can make!'
Currently the Residents Association receives funding from the Fairer Scotland Fund. The Association is currently putting together an action plan and business plan that contains a financial sustainability model so they can look for alternative and new funding streams.
Example 2: Building Healthy Communities
The Building Healthy Communities (BHC) Project was set up in 2001. It was established by the Dumfries and Galloway Regional Partnership for Health. This is a partnership made up of public, voluntary and community organisations that believe strongly in the need to and value of working together to improve health and wellbeing in Dumfries and Galloway.
The project aims to build individual, organisational and community capacity in take action to tackle the root causes of health inequalities. The project is led by the community, and was one of the first community development projects in Dumfries and Galloway which specifically addressed health inequalities.
The project operates in four areas of Dumfries and Galloway, offering different activities and initiatives. For example, in North West Dumfries, the 'Little Gems' project offers support and information to new and vulnerable parents, while in Upper Nithsdale there is a drop in and activities that encourage youth participation. The project offers one to one support to individuals, but also actively encourages people to become volunteers and take an active role in their communities.
Example 3: LGBT Case Study
In 2003, key agencies in Dumfries and Galloway were concerned that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were facing very serious issues. Many people were isolated, frightened and were suffering violence and harassment.
The local Community Learning and Development Team, the Youth Enquiry Service and other agencies (like the NHS) worked with LGBT Youth Scotland to establish a Forum to look at these issues. This involved outreach work to engage the community and gather views on what was needed locally.
The Forum worked to develop a short-term action plan. This helped raise awareness of the issues, and focused the partners on completing a small number of priority actions.
Since then, LGBT Youth Scotland has worked with LGBT people to strengthen individual and collective abilities. Individual work has included providing support, counselling and advocacy work. Collective work has involved supporting LGBT people to strengthen their local group structures, including working with groups to formalise their structures, or develop their skills.
Over time, the confidence of the community is being built. Many individuals have faced major challenges in their lives, but now have the support to deal with these. The Dumfries Pride Event is a great example of what has been achieved. When the work began, people were worried about being too visible in case they attracted unwanted attention. But the event was fantastic, and widely attended - not just by LGBT people. It gave the local community a great boost.
It has also been important to build the capacity of the key agencies, to ensure LGBT issues are being recognised, and the community supported. Partners have worked to train local agencies (like registrars on civil partnerships) and they have embedded themselves in community planning structures.
'This has been absolutely critical - ensuring LGBT issues are in local plans. This gets people talking about you in funding circles, and makes it hard to ignore us'.
PDf file: What Community Development Does - produced by the Community Development Alliance Scotland - includes good case study examples of community capacity building (as well as examples of community engagement).
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