connecting communities presentation
TRANSCRIPT
HELPING LOCAL PEOPLE DOEXTRAORDINARY THINGS.
James HampsonConnecting Communities
Co-ordinator
Forever Manchester Connecting Communities Workshop
Introductions
• Tell us who you are and something that you are good at
• What brings you to the session? • What interests you about today?
Forever Manchester• Community Foundation for Greater Manchester• Been active for 26 Years• Raise and distribute funds to communities of
Greater Manchester• 2011 We discovered a different way of working• Developed the UK’s first dedicated ABCD
Community Building Team• We work with Communities to help them do
“Extraordinary things together”
What do you want for your group/Community?
• More activities• More people involved• To be able to do more• Safer• Happier• More Connected• Cleaner
Principals of Community Building
Start with discovering people’s strengths Start with relationship building Local led action is more durable and
sustainable than professional programmes When the conversation shifts from “isn’t it
awful” to “what’s possible?” Real community building begins
Problem Focused• What Problems do you think can be created by
this approach?
• Competition between groups• Apathy• Negative Stereotypes• Loss of local pride• Dependency
When people care about something enough, they have a motivation to act.
What is Asset Based Community Development?
• ABCD is a different way of viewing communities
• It encourages people to think about and explore what skills and talents are already in the community
• Communities and everyone in them are better off when they work together and share these skills
We Can GameCredit - Cormac Russell of Nurture Development and Inclusion Press
The We Can Game• The game can be used to get people
thinking differently about their capacities/assets
• Can begin the process of asset mapping individuals
• It can start to identify people to invite in to our community efforts
• Google “We Can Game”
A shopping list
What are Assets?
There are 4 key Assets in every community…1)Individuals2)Associations3)Institutions4)Physical Assets 5)Connections
What are Assets? 1)Individuals• At the centre of ABCD are residents of the
community that have gifts and skills. • Everyone has assets and gifts. • Individual gifts and assets need to be
recognized and identified. • In community development you cannot do
anything with people’s needs, only their assets.
• Deficits or needs are only useful to institutions.
What Are Your Gifts?
Assets of the Head
• Take 3 Post–It Notes• Write your name on each note• Write down 3 Gifts of the Head, one on
each note – Things I know something about and
would enjoy talking about with others
Assets of the Heart
• Take 3 more Post–It Notes• Write your name on each note• Write down 3 Gifts of the Heart, one on
each note - Things I am passionate about, things
that make me take action
Assets of the Hands
• Take 3 more Post–It Notes• Write your name on each note• Write down 3 Gifts of the Hands, one on
each note– Things or skills I know how to do and
could potentially share with others – Things you can make, fix, build or
produce
Head, Heart, Hands• This is a good exercise to do with groups• Can start a conversation about ideas• Start connections around mutual gifts• Creates Conversation• Fun way to discover individuals community
assets• Can be used to make connections between
people (more on this later)
What are Assets? 2) Associations• Small formal and informal groups of
people • Clubs working with a common interest as
volunteers are called associations in ABCD and are critical to community mobilization.
• They are coming together around a common interest by their individual choice
Community Associations
• Every effort should be made to contact and include as many as possible
• Associations can take on new roles e.g. Community Funday
• Informal Associations are as useful as formal associations
Community Associations• Get things Started!• Buildings• Resources• Create Space• Experience e.g. funding applications• Skills and talents of members• Encourage others to get involved• Collective Voice
What are Assets? 3) Institutions/Service providers• Paid groups of people who generally are
professionals who are structurally organized are called institutions.
• They include government agencies and private business, as well as schools, etc.
• They can all be valuable resources. • The assets of these institutions help the
community capture valuable resources and establish a sense of civic responsibility.
Asset Mapping
Asset Mapping allows us to build up a picture of what assets are available for us to use and mobilise.
On a physical map of where you live you can identify the • Institutions
• Physical Assets• Associations
Asset Mapping
In groups come up with a way to record and show any groups, institutions and physical assets in you
community
Asset Mapping• This exercise is especially effective with small groups of residents
• Asset Mapping is a good way of getting people talking
• An Asset Map can be useful in inspiring community action and involvement
• Informal groups who regularly meet are worth adding and connecting
• Make sure that the map is visible and accessible by everyone in the community
• Always review and add to the map
The Power of Two • If one person spent one day having a conversation to
two people about what they could create (1+2)• If the next day, those two people each had a
conversation with two different people (1+2+2+2)• And so forth• Then in 10 days, 2047 people would be having a
conversation• In 15 days, 65,536 people would be in conversation• In 20 days, 2 million people would be in conversation
Asset Based Community Development Institute
Finding People• Meet and talk to people in spaces they
naturally meet • Start a different conversation about
themselves and Community Life• Map the assets instead of identifying
the needs • Shift the conversation from what’s
wrong to what’s strong • Positive questions will receive a
positive response• What types of questions might we ask?
Finding People• Do you know about the event we’re having?
• Have you got any hobbies or interests?
• What sort of stuff do you do to keep the kids busy?
• Have you ever had an Idea for something you’d like to do in the community?
• What are you good at?
• What do you really care about?
• Can you help us?
What are Assets? 5) Connections• Assets become stronger when they are
connected together
• Connections between people based on strengths build healthy relationships
Connecting• Connecting Community Assets is the key to
Community Building• Quite simply it is the building of relationships
between different members of the community for shared benefits
• Relationships are built on shared and compatible strengths
• Connections should be made between all members and organisations in the community
• Ideas and Community Projects are perfect arenas for people to build Connections
Connect the room
Host a party!
Stories• Community Stories can help to create a
shared history and sense of belonging• Stories can motivate and inspire others• Tell of a time when people came
together and achieved something extraordinary
• Sharing success continues and builds community momentum
Do you really need funding?At sometimes all groups will need funds to make themselves bigger and better but first consider this
• By looking around the community you can make your money go further
• Do local businesses want to sponsor you?• Can you add a small fee?• Are you raising money to give to someone else?• Benefits include
• More people involved• Raises local awareness• Funding can help others in the community
Fundraising
• What do you fundraise for?
• How do you fundraise?
• Where do you get donations from?
What can each of these groups do?
Who do these people know?
Summary• Start with discovering Strengths• Connect with as many people in the area as possible• Local led action is more durable and sustainable that
professional led action• Become comfortable telling your stories• HAVE FUN AND MAKE NOISE
How you can help Forever Manchester
• Fundraise and donate to us!• Self Fundraise• Spread the word about us• Tell us your stories