For us to change what we are doing we are either moving away from something that no longer serves us (and is often very painful) ... or... we are moving towards something that has many more benefits than where we are (positive and exciting).
Community development will effect everyone... and if we all participate it can serve everyone. Unlike governments and institutions based on finance (winners & losers), community work almost always creates win win win situations. That's why it is such an amazing thing to be involved in.
Every single person in the community can benefit to some extent. Whatever you are doing, currently involved in, want to do in the future becoming more involved and having more connections can only be a good thing. Here are some edited highlights of how different organisations / groups of people might be able to tap into community building and benefit from coming to some of the events we organise and the community communications hub.
Community Organisations
Enhance use of technology, sharing the good work you are doing, reach a wider audience, increase awareness, more engagement from the public, recognise people who are doing amazing things out there, new ideas and innovation
Local Charities
Enhance use of technology, sharing the good work you are doing, reach a wider audience, increase awareness, more engagement from the public, recognise people who are doing amazing things out there, increase income being generated
Local Businesses
Find collaborative partners, innovate and create new ideas, new suppliers, new clients, learn new technology, improve knowledge and know how, and find new ways to do things. Get peer support, and share what you are doing more easily... how can I more easily connect with people who need my service? ... all answered. Starting to think outside the box and innovate new ideas into our businesses is often neglected on our own but when innovating together bouncing ideas of each other it can be fabulous.
Elderly Population
A mine of information and knowledge to share but often don't meet a soul from week to week. Help to remove loneliness, increase care and support. Improve inclusion & participation in the community. Friendship.
Young People
Learn to find their own way, receive trust and respect, innovate and create, explore new ideas and learn what is needed to take action. Integrate and collaborate with older people, but without judgement, improve self worth and self esteem, build better belief systems, increase connections gain understanding and support... share technical knowledge
Unemployed
Learn to find their own way, receive trust and respect, innovate and create, explore new ideas and learn what is needed to take action. Integrate and collaborate with older people, but without judgement, improve self worth and self esteem, build better belief systems, increase connections gain understanding and support... follow what interests you
Health & Wellness
Sharing new ideas and ways to improve health and wellness. Increase visibility of alternative approaches, enable more people to access new information. Sharing real nutritional information unbiased and unattached to products and services. Pick up on projects and actions for mental health issues and other areas where the NHS isn't able to cope.
why not "nHS" the neighbourheard health service... or "PHS" people's health service....
Education
New ideas for education, the existing system doesn't work for all. Innovation, creativity and free from the pressure to meet the needs and expectations of others is essential. Couple this group with the Young People benefits we can really serve our young people.
We all have knowledge and experience to share we are all guides and signposts. Events, connections, and a platform for workshops "the people's university" we are enough. Affordable sharing of experience 'by us, for us'.
Faith Groups
Like all community groups, Faith groups often struggle to spread their message to the wider audience of the good work they do. Faith groups can benefit by learning how to enhance their use of technology, sharing what they are doing more effectively, increasing awareness, more engagement with the public, recognise people who are doing amazing things out there, new ideas and innovation.
Local Sports Clubs and Associations
Watford football club gets lots of publicity, but what about our local sports? Kids football teams, table tennis, badminton, squash, athletics... where does this news get shared. How do we recognise their achievements and the people who put the time in to make it happen. All this information can be hosted on the community communications hub. So much good work is only known by those directly involved... time for change.
Local Authorities
Local Authorities need to get more involved with what is happening on the ground and local initiatives. As we share the good news and raise the profile of community action it will become more visible. More visibility enables the council to see what is happening and get involved with funding and assistance to enable more good work to be done and perhaps remove obstacles.
The council can also share their good work, successes and projects so that more people appreciate what the council is doing.
Ideas and innovative ways to provide services currently met by existing council services via the council could lead to more efficiencies, lower costs and re-appropriation of funds.
Large national businesses & multiples
Large businesses often have community projects that they are involved in that rarely make the local newspapers. These organisations sponsor local charities, community activities and mostly the community doesn't get to hear about it. Sharing the Corporate Social Responsibility that is happening will encourage more of it, make more funding available for other ideas and initiatives. This will help to stimulate greater engagement and hopefully spread to other branches around the country.