Supporting Community Action – Lessons from Australia and the UK

25 September 2013

• Conference report now available to download above
• Powerpoint presentations available here

The free event was a collaboration of three partner organisations: FCDL; The International Association for Community Development (IACD); and, the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC). Each have a track record in working with and learning from small and marginalised community groups both in the UK and internationally.

IACD is a global network of practitioners, activists, researchers and policymakers committed to building social justice through community development approaches.

The Third Sector Research Centre aims to enhance knowledge of the voluntary and community sector through independent and critical research.

The event was aimed at the wide range of practitioners and policy makers with an interest in working with, and learning from, small and emerging community groups and networks. These are often best placed to identify community needs and aspirations and take action to address the issues confronting communities. Despite this, they are not found around the tables of policy makers or ‘going for influence or tender’ consortia. Community activists, development workers, community learning providers, health, housing, education, environmental and other practitioners were able to draw on lessons from Australia and the UK.

The event focussed on

• Sharing approaches to supporting small and emerging groups to develop and take collective action around their own identified interests
• How to support communities of interest and identity in a climate of localism and neighbourhood
• The links between informal learning and community action
• Supporting community members to recognise and build on their existing strengths, knowledge and experience

Keynote speaker: Ingrid Burkett is President of IACD. Based near Brisbane, Australia, Ingrid has many years’ experience in community development, as a practitioner, trainer, researcher and writer. Her work includes supporting community groups and organisations to articulate their skills and knowledge, so they can play an active role in bringing about social change.