Neighbourhoods: light touch support
On 29 March 2007, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) published a report
(Changing neighbourhoods: the impact of 'light touch' support in 20 communities)
on findings of the JRF Neighbourhood Programme, which provided the opportunity
to test out a 'light touch' approach to supporting groups at neighbourhood
level. The programme evaluation found that:
- Sustainable neighbourhood-based organisations are vital to effective
community engagement.
- A low level of continuous 'light touch' support can make a real difference
to neighbourhood groups. The 'light touch' support provided through the
JRF programme illustrates the value of giving neighbourhood organisations
access to:
- a facilitator: someone who is 'on their side' and to whom they
can turn for ideas, support and when things go wrong;
- credit: small amounts of unrestricted money can make a big difference,
particularly to smaller community groups and those just starting out;
- networking opportunities: there is a confidence and status that
comes from finding out your experience is shared with others;
- help with action planning: even the smallest of community groups
benefited from support to review local needs and opportunities, map
out their future and reflect on past achievements and difficulties;
- a broker who can mediate with other organisations and agencies
if necessary and unblock relationships with power-holders such as
the local authority.
More intensive community development support is needed where there is
a long history of disadvantage, where there is a fragmented community and
where there is a major change at community level e.g. as a result of regeneration
programmes. It will also be needed where there are pockets of disadvantage
in more affluent areas, which are often hidden from view and where there
has been little previous investment.
