Lecture One Understanding Community Networking.

8/22/2019 Lecture One Understanding Community Networking.

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Another aspect of training and education inthe field of CD is the importance ofnetworking.

Community development workers usenetworking as a way of improving their ownknowledge and skills and co-ordinating theirwork with others.

Networking is important at both local,regional and national levels.


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Networking is also a way for communitiesthemselves to gather information anddevelop working relationships with othercommunities, voluntary groups and statutory

bodies

Community Networking means linkingindividuals and groups in community bywhere they live or by other common concernson which they may want to act togethervoluntarily


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The role of community development isoften overlooked at the higher levelsof policy, although there is wide

reliance on its methods at the level ofimplementation.


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This reliance is largely hidden fromview because it takes place in detailedlocal situations.

CDs own ethos of stressing its role inproviding background support rather

than leadership reinforces this lowprofile.


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Few local areas have overall CD strategieswhich link efforts across sectors, agenciesand the full range of policy issues.

Many people doing community developmentwork feel isolated and lack support, althougha number of regional, sub-regional and local

networks are in existence, and there areseveral national organisations which promotethe practice.


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there are few community groups, and manyindividuals do not realise that the issues thatconcern them are shared by others and canbe affected by joint action

the most disadvantaged people receive poorquality public services yet are least confident

and skilled at representing their needs toauthorities


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some of the groups that do existremain small and exclusive,dominated by cliques or strong

individuals who keep decision-making(and sometimes benefits) tothemselves


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community organisations fail to adapt tochanging circumstances or miss out onfunding opportunities which might enablethem to expand or change direction.

Their work becomes unsustainable orinappropriate and does not evolve


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community leaders and representatives arenot properly selected and held accountable

different interests in communities are unableto reach a consensus or vision that articulatestheir views to others and as a consequencetheir interests do not register in public

decision-making


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sections of the local population are not ableto participate in activities that are intendedfor the whole community because prejudices,assumptions and cultural differences are not

tackled


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enable better understanding, promotion and

influence of the core community developmentvalues


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CD networks also works with publicauthorities, services and agencies, toenable them to better understand,

engage with and respond tocommunities.


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creating and facilitating opportunitiesfor communities and local authoritiesto discuss strategies for addressing

their needs

helping organisations to establish

informal networks and ensuring thatthey take on appropriate structures


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setting up and servicing strategic forums thatbring together people and groups with acommon agenda or similar life experiences.

encouraging groups to think about people intheir communities who find it more difficultto participate in their organisation

helping organisations to change or to developnew activities and services that are moreinclusive and accessible

Lecture One Understanding Community Networking.

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