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COMMUNITIES IN CONTROL > Developing Assets

Trans-national Conference > 2nd and 3rd June 2009 New Contemporary Urban Centre > Liverpool

The worldwide economic crisis is already hitting the poorest communities hardest, resulting in increasing unemployment and deepening poverty and social exclusion. In the face of this economic crisis, Government funding is coming under greater pressure than ever before. Hence the need for new ideas and strategies which are not needs based or funding-led, but instead use existing assets more effectively and promote citizen led initiatives. In short, approaches that support communities to take control in a democratic and inclusive way. European examples of this alternative approach are emerging, particularly in parts of the UK, Ireland and The Netherlands. The approach which adopts a community building model -where the assets of communities are identified, connected and mobilised is known as the Asset Based Community Development approach (ABCD approach) or, more broadly, community asset development.

AIM OF THE CONFERENCE

Conference Details

The aim is to have an exchange of experiences and

The Conference will take place on 2nd June; on the 3rd

knowledge about asset based community development

June, field visits will be facilitated for delegates who wish

taking place in three European countries. With the best of

to see projects in action. Details on the conference are pro-

local practice as a starting point, the questions of how

vided in the Conference Programme (below). The second day

and why an asset based approach is better placed to

will provide an opportunity to visit successful projects in the

build stronger more sustainable communities than the

Northwest of England, mainly in Manchester and Liverpool.

traditional need-based model will be explored.

Some ‘virtual’ visits will take place, highlighting work taking

Opportunities for future trans-national cooperation will

place in organisations which are further afield, including

also be identified. Having started at the neighbourhood

rural projects. John McKnight from the ABCD Institute in

level, the conference will then conclude with a discussion

Chicago, the founder of the Asset Based Community Develop-

between attending policy makers about the potential of

ment approach and author of “Changing Communities from

redirecting policies towards community control.

inside out”, will moderate together with Stephen Thake,

Who can attend?

reader in Urban policy at the London Metropolitan University.

Active citizens from urban and rural communities, as well as professionals and policy makers, will be invited to exchange views and learn from each other. In total around 150-200 delegates from the three named countries will attend.

The conference organisers include Novas Scarman, Carnegie Trust UK, IACD, Community Development Exchange, Development Trusts Association, LSA, Nurture Development Ireland.

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Conference Programme 2nd June 09.30 a.m.

Introduction and Welcome



Cormac Russell (Conference Chair)

9.35 a.m.

Key note Principles of ABCD



Professor John McKnight Co-director of



the Asset Based Community Development



Institute Northwestern University

10.15 a.m.

Stephen Thake, reader in Urban policy,



London Metropolitan University interviews



representatives from community organisa-



tions in the UK, Ireland and The Netherlands



about ABCD experiences in their countries

10.30 a.m.

Key Questions for the Conference John



McKnight and Stephen Thake

10.35 a.m.

Introduction to 6 Workshops by



Community Leaders from the U.K.



Ireland and The Netherlands.

11.00 a.m.

Coffee Break

11.15 a.m.

Six Workshops exploring themes such



as Urban/Rural Communities in Control,



Youth Led Initiatives and Citizen Driven



Neighbourhood Renewal, facilitated by



Community Leaders who have direct



experience of using ABCD on the ground.

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13.15 p.m.

Lunch break

14.15 p.m.

Interaction in small groups about citizen



led initiatives

15.30 p.m.

Tea break

16.00 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Policy Implications of



the ABCD approach



Panel to include policy makers



from participating countries,



John McKnight and Stephen Thake

16.50 p.m.

Conclusion



Representatives of the organising parties



will sum up the prospects for future



cooperation between the three countries



in developing a European strategy for



asset based citizen centred approaches.

5.00 p.m.

Closing Comments Cormac Russell

3rd June 10.00 a.m.

Visits to projects in north-western England



cities for all interested delegates

14.00 p.m.

Close

For nearly three decades, John

Stephen Thake has researched and reported on urban policy and community

McKnight has conducted research on

regeneration activity throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

social service delivery systems, health

Stephen’s work has also included commissions from central government

policy, community organizations,

departments (DfES, ODPM, Home Office), regional development agencies (LDA,

neighborhood policy, and institutional

SEEDA, EEDA) and numerous local authorities to provide advice, policy analysis

racism. He currently directs research

and programme evaluation. He currently leads the team that is evaluating the

projects focused on asset-based

Adventure Capital Fund programme, sponsored by the Home Office, ODPM and

neighborhood development and

the DTI. He has also worked n Europe and North America where among many

methods of community building by

other achievements he has developed the International Community Leadership

incorporating marginalized people.

Programme in partnership with Millersville University, in Pennsylvania.

Conference: Background and rationale Finding solutions for urban and rural deprivation has been a political priority in many European countries for several decades. National and local governments and the third sector continue to engage in attempts at developing an integrated, partnership approach to tackling poverty, social exclusion and a wide range of other related social problems. European policies that aim to promote social inclusion,

This new approach genuinely empowers citizens and thereby

community development, and anti poverty initiatives can

strengthens civil society in that it draws on the abilities

only hope to reach fruition if they are implemented in a way

and insights of local residents to solve a neighbourhood’s

that puts citizens in the driving seat. The Social Services

own problems. This does not mean that troubled neigh-

model that currently dominates European social protection

bourhoods do not need outside help, but that any genuine

policies, instead of putting citizens and communities in

local revitalisation project must in fact be citizen-led, with

control, more often than not relegates them to a position

outside agencies acting in a support role.

of passive recipients of state funded services, creating more dependency than empowerment. One international

The ABCD Institute has worked all over the world supporting

approach that embraces the real empowerment of citizens

initiatives that uncover latent assets and strengthen com-

is known as the Asset Based Community Development

munities, including the UK, Ireland and The Netherlands.

approach (ABCD approach). More recently, there has also

In the last eight years, in each of the aforementioned

been interest and investment in the development of assets

countries, a number of organisations have actively engaged

in third sector organisations, particularly in the UK.

in ‘translating’ ABCD principles into practical action in

In England, the government provided a £30m support

various European contexts. Given the value of such an

fund and a programme to encourage the transfer of local

approach in mobilising citizen engagement in each of the

government assets to the third sector, both were supported

three respective countries, a number of the organisations

by the Development Trust Association.

employing ABCD principles have agreed to jointly promote an ABCD trans-national Conference on June 2nd and 3rd 2009.

“For the last 40 or 50 years we have been looking at communities in terms of their needs,” says Prof. John

The rationale of this conference finds best expression in

McKnight, co-director of the Asset Based Community

the shared desire of the organising partners to discuss

Development (ABCD) Institute at North-western University,

what has been learned in each of their respective countries

Chicago. “We have run into a brick wall with that approach.”

in applying ABCD principles, and more broadly how these

John McKnight and John Kretzmann pioneered the ABCD

lessons can inform European policies on social inclusion,

approach to urban problems that begins by looking at the

active citizenship and civil engagement, as well as anti-

assets that exist in a community rather than simply doing a

poverty strategies.

stock take of what is wrong - the traditional ‘needs analysis’.

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Information on Organising Partners: The Development Trusts Association (DTA)

The International Association for Community

is a network of community practitioners which helps

Development (IACD) is a volunteer led, not-for-profit, non-

people set up development trusts and helps existing trusts

governmental organization committed to building a global

learn from each other and work effectively. It works to influ-

network of people and organizations working toward social

ence government and others at national and local level,

justice through a community development approach.

to build support and investment for our movement. There

Our aims are to promote community development across

are now over 450 development trusts in membership,

international policies and programmes, to network and

across urban and rural areas. While many are still small,

support community development practitioners and to

others are operating at scale: the combined income is over

encourage information and practice exchange. IACD has

£260m and development trusts have £490m of assets in

recognized NGO consultative status with the United Na-

community ownership. www.dta.org.uk

tions. To learn more, visit us online at: www.iacdglobal.org

The Carnegie UK Trust operates throughout the UK and

Landelijk Samenwerkingsverband Aandachtswijken (LSA)

Ireland through two programmes of work: one on Democ-

is an association of community organisations from deprived

racy and Civil Society and the other on Rural Community

neighbourhoods in 31 cities in The Netherlands. Our aim is

Development. The rural programme in particular makes a

to support the work of our member organizations in any way

commitment to the promotion of asset based rural com-

we can. The main activities are exchange of information

munity development and to the creation of a “community

and knowledge through conferences, regional meetings,

of practice” involving the wide participation of community

websites and publications, development of projects and

activists. It also seeks to ensure the implementation of the

coaching people locally in project development. We are also

ideas set out in the Charter for Rural Communities which

active on the policy front, trying to influence government

was produced by the Trust in 2006. www.carnegietrust.org.uk

policies for urban renewal. Funding comes from national government, local councils and housing associations. www.bewoners.nl

follow-back

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Nurture Development was established in Ireland in 1996

range of interests in community development across all

to provide training, research, community building, facilitation

sectors and fields.

and conflict mitigation services to the Third (Community and Voluntary), the Public and the Private sectors respectively.

CDX acts as a catalyst for change by sharing information,

Cormac Russell, Managing Director, is a faculty member of

experience and practice through a variety of means

the Asset Based Community Development Institute, North-

including conferences, networks, newsletters, website and

western University, Chicago.

research www.cdx.org.uk

Nurture Development’s focus is on the development of new

The Novas Scarmangroup works at a local level to empower

strategies for bringing about social change through the

people and communities by creating opportunities for

more effective use of existing assets and the promotion of

positive change through personalised support and develop-

citizen led initiatives. Nurture Development also operates

ment, pathways into work and learning, inclusive local

in East Africa, with an office in Nairobi, Kenya. This year

decision making and change programmes, and releasing

Nurture Development will be delivering its Asset Based

enterprise and cultural expression. We develop innovative

Community Development (ABCD) training and consultancy

community empowerment strategies that integrate our

packages to public, community and voluntary sectors in

services and those that face deep exclusion to be at the

the UK. www.nurturedevelopment.ie

centre of our communities, not on the margins. We are currently remodelling many of our large hostels to raise

The Community Development Exchange is the UK-wide

the living standards for people who are homeless, within

membership organisation for community development.

buildings that will become a part of their local communities

CDX works to ensure that community development is

through business, market space, cultural quarters, perfor-

recognised and supported as a powerful way of tackling

mance spaces, retail and restaurants.

inequality and achieving social justice. As an organisation

www.novasscarman.org

with members from across the UK, CDX reflects a diverse

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Colophon

Realisation: Henk Cornelissen, LSA Pleuni Koopman, LSA

Text: Cormac Russell, Nurture Development

Design: Wow! Creative [email protected]