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Review of community development organisations and networks We undertook a large scale consultation in the north east to explore how best to promote community development, support community development practitioners and make an impact on strategic bodies. We interviewed a wide range of people across all sectors and sub regions, and undertook a detailed review of written material generated by the two main organisations and networks in the region, to produce a detailed report and recommendations on options for future developments. |
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Participatory Budgeting We received an ERSC fellowship grant to work in conjunction with Bradford University International Centre for Participation Studies to develop a community development perspective on PB. The work involved collecting information about participatory budgeting from around the world, producing handouts and exercises for use in taster sessions which we then piloted. We designed and developed an accredited course with City and Guilds on PB and community development and produced the resource pack to support this. We have attended several conferences and run workshops on a community development approach to PB. See our PB pages for more details |
Supporting Refugee Community Organisations We worked with refugee groups and communities to determine the kind of support they needed to become effective groups. We then created a pack on how to set up and organise effectively – using as the basis material we had created in the past for a pack called Grass Roots Growing. The final pack was then taken up by FCDL and produced nationally as part o their Capacity Building funded Improving Reach Project. You can purchase it by visiting www.fcdl.org.uk |
Evaluation of traineeships within child care organisations A number of people had been taken on as trainees within organisations providing child care services in the voluntary, statutory and private sector. The local children’s workforce wanted a review of how well these had worked and what lessons could be learnt from these pilots. We gathered information through interviews with the providers and the trainees and used this to create a good practice guide for the future. |
Mentoring for community development practitioners We undertook some research into the needs of community development practitioners and into the different kinds of mentoring programmes that existed. We then designed a system and produced a toolkit to support the process. We then delivered training for mentors and those who wanted mentoring support. We reviewed the process and materials and amended them and then ran the second set of training and support for people on the programme. |
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Community Representatives We undertook a training needs analysis of representatives from the VCS and mapped existing training and learning programmes that were relevant. We then developed a bespoke training programme of short taster sessions for community representatives on understanding local government, the role of representatives, and how to get support to carry out their role. We delivered the training and then reviewed the material and produced a learning pack. |
Artworks We undertook some initial scooping to determine the options for them to convert their existing courses on using arts within communities into accredited training programmes. We prepared funding bids for the development and running of future courses. |
Heaton Village HallThe existing church hall was coming to the end of its life and there were some potential for selling the land and building a new village hall in another part of Heaton. We undertook community consultative work to determine the potential usage of the planned new hall by community groups and voluntary organisations, and considered longer term funding possibilities. |
Bradford Diversity ExchangeSet up after the riots in Bradford in the 1990’s as a part of the LSP, Bradford Vision. It aimed to bring together people from different communities and to promote equality in organisations in the statutory and voluntary sectors. We undertook work with the Diversity Exchange board to prepare them to become an independent organisation and to expand their activities. |
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Past Sostenga Projects
