EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Community Development Training: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk

Community Development Training: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk

Introduction

The report details lessons learned from a three year Community Development Training Project with disadvantaged communities in Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

Description

This is a report on the experience, successes and lessons learned from a community development training project sponsored by EQUAL. The project took place from 2002 to 2005 in the ‘Solent’ area (covering Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight).

The Solent model consisted of: engaging with people from disadvantaged backgrounds, developing Open College Network (OCN) accredited training with them and preparing candidates for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) accreditation in Community Development. Work placements were arranged for some candidates in order to extend their experience of community development practice.

Background information

The Solent project was established to pilot and develop a new model of Community Development training incorporating the NVQ, work experience placements and other accredited training opportunities. The project lasted for 3 years from 2002 to 2005.

Methodology

The evaluation methodology can be summarized as follows:

Desk research: study and analysis of information provided by the partnership and relevant
external sources
Identification of initial key issues and questions for interviews
Attendance/Observation of key meetings (9)
Interviews with project coordinators (4)
Interviews with Partnership members (7)
Interviews/focus groups with trainees (16 in total) 5
Interviews with placement providers (2), External Assessor/Verifier, City & Guilds Regional
Adviser, OCN Regional Adviser
Provision of a draft report
Presentation and discussion of a review of the project at the SCDP Conference

Conclusions

Overall conclusions show: The Solent project has shown that community development training can be successfully developed in disadvantaged communities and for communities of interest who face discrimination and disadvantage.

This can redress the negative effect of “parachuting in” workers from outside those communities and leave a lasting resource in improved community structures and activities that impact on many other services.

Contact info

Equal Works
equalworks.education@tribalgroup.co.uk

Publication date

Project finished

//2005

Researcher

Dr Rennie Johnston, Freelance researcher and practitioner in lifelong learning and community development

Links

Visit the Equal Works website

Download the 'Community Development Training: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk' Report (PDF, Eng, 774 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords

Social inclusion & integration