This summary paper draws together the findings of a study examining the role and impact of community leaders in area regeneration partnerships. It identifies five key themes which lead towards practical suggestions for enhancing community leadership in policy and practice.

The key themes are policy context, the impact of working in partnership, the personal experience of leadership, representation and accountability and leadership succession and capacity building. It looks at the steps policy-makers and practitioners need to take if regeneration partnerships are to empower communities and their leaders.

Community representation is widely accepted as crucial to the success of urban regeneration partnerships. Yet, there has been little research into the role of individual community leaders in area regeneration.

Community leaders may be identified in two ways:

The study is based on research on community leaders involved in SRB schemes in nine case studies in the UK:

Eighty-eight community leaders were interviewed, including 42 women and 22 people from minority ethnic backgrounds. A subset of these took part in eight focus groups. SRB project managers and/or community workers were also consulted in each area.

The analysis suggests that bold change is needed if the rhetoric about community involvement is to be matched by good practice on the ground. The researchers conclude that if regeneration partnerships are to empower communities and their leaders, policy-makers and practitioners need to take steps at three levels:

Joseph Rowntree Foundation
publications@jrf.org.uk

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Derrick Purdue, Konica Razzaque, Robin Hambleton and Murray Stewart of the University of the West of England, Bristol, and Chris Huxham and Siv Vangen of the University of Strathclyde

research

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Capacity building