Capacity Building

Capacity Capacity Building Building

The way forward?The way forward?

This morning’s themes:This morning’s themes: Who do we ‘do’ capacity building with?Who do we ‘do’ capacity building with?

What approaches can we use? A model of What approaches can we use? A model of CBCB

How can we plan it?How can we plan it?

How can empowerment be part of CB?How can empowerment be part of CB?

‘ ‘the basics’the basics’

BackgroundBackground

Recent work:Recent work:• Community leaders in Wakefield and Community leaders in Wakefield and

BirminghamBirmingham• Refugee groups in LondonRefugee groups in London• Residents groups in Salford, Residents groups in Salford,

Blackburn and BradfordBlackburn and Bradford• Local authorities in Falkirk, Dundee Local authorities in Falkirk, Dundee

area and Pertharea and Perth

BackgroundBackground Training and support Training and support

work with small work with small groups in West groups in West YorkshireYorkshire

Assertiveness trainingAssertiveness training

Supporting groups Supporting groups and networksand networks

Was this capacity Was this capacity building?building?

Strategic Guidance for Community Planning Partnerships:

Community Learning and Development

‘It is important to be clear about the purpose of CLD. We see it as empowering people, individually and collectively, to make positive changes in their lives and in their communities, through learning.’

So how can CCB empower people?

What is Community What is Community Capacity Building?Capacity Building?

Activities, resources Activities, resources and support that and support that

strengthens the skills, strengthens the skills, abilities and abilities and

confidence of people confidence of people and community and community groups to take groups to take

effective action and effective action and leading roles in the leading roles in the

development of development of communitiescommunities

CCB: A few challenges…CCB: A few challenges…

Isn’t it a bit of jargon?Isn’t it a bit of jargon? Community Community Strengths may be a better termStrengths may be a better term

Isn’t it top down?Isn’t it top down? It can be It can be organised bottom-up and in organised bottom-up and in partnershippartnership

Isn’t it all about gaps?Isn’t it all about gaps? It can be It can be organised in ways that build from and organised in ways that build from and value existing strengthsvalue existing strengths

CCB: A few challenges…CCB: A few challenges…

Isn’t just a technical fix?Isn’t just a technical fix? It can be It can be organised in ways that are empoweringorganised in ways that are empowering

Won’t it just benefit already well Won’t it just benefit already well organised groups?organised groups? It can be organised It can be organised in ways that benefit all parts of in ways that benefit all parts of communitiescommunities

CCB: A few challenges…CCB: A few challenges… Loss of benefits, risks of Loss of benefits, risks of

losing homeslosing homes High unemploymentHigh unemployment For some people, For some people,

depression and isolationdepression and isolation Increased demands on Increased demands on

public services and public services and voluntary organisationsvoluntary organisations

Reduced funding for the Reduced funding for the voluntary community voluntary community sectorssectors

The Big Society?

In this context:In this context:

Who do we do capacity building with?Who do we do capacity building with?

What approaches can we use? A What approaches can we use? A model of CBmodel of CB

How can we plan it?How can we plan it?

How can empowerment be part of CB?How can empowerment be part of CB?

Who with? Active Who with? Active Citizens Citizens

Campaigner e.g. Campaigner e.g. environmentenvironment

OrganiserOrganiser

Informal volunteerInformal volunteer Formal volunteerFormal volunteer

Group memberGroup member Group leaderGroup leader Management Management

committee membercommittee member

Faith leaderFaith leader Social entrepreneurSocial entrepreneur

Area based Area based community community ‘representative’‘representative’

VCS ‘representative’VCS ‘representative’

Community CouncilsCommunity Councils Ward Councillor Ward Councillor

Community sector

Private sector

Voluntary sector

Residents groups

Self-help groups

Faith groups

‘Infrastructure’ organisations

Service Delivery

organisations

Community-of-interest

organisations

Campaigning groups - local

Campaigning groups - national

Who with? The voluntary and community sectors

Credit Unions

Social businesses

Co-ops

Who with? Communities of Who with? Communities of interestinterest

Communities of place – Communities of place – Share a Share a locationlocation – e.g. – e.g. village, street, village, street, neighbourhood , town, neighbourhood , town, borough. borough.

Communities of interest - Communities of interest - Are people who share an Are people who share an identity identity – e.g. a disability – e.g. a disability

or share an or share an experience or experience or concernconcern e.g. carers of e.g. carers of older people, people who older people, people who are homeless, refugees. are homeless, refugees.

Who with?Who with? Individuals – active citizens, involved in activities, Individuals – active citizens, involved in activities,

events, campaigns, volunteering, leadershipevents, campaigns, volunteering, leadership

Community groups – communities of interest and Community groups – communities of interest and place, individual groups and networks of groupsplace, individual groups and networks of groups

Voluntary organisations, community enterprisesVoluntary organisations, community enterprises

Public sector organisations? We now look at this Public sector organisations? We now look at this issue.issue.

Community engagement Community engagement The benefits for public services of community The benefits for public services of community

engagementengagement

Services address Services address needs more needs more effectivelyeffectively

Increase access to Increase access to local resourceslocal resources

Use specialist Use specialist expertise and expertise and relationshipsrelationships

Gain more lasting Gain more lasting impactimpact

Build ‘social Build ‘social capital’capital’

Strengthen Strengthen democracy and democracy and active citizenshipactive citizenship

Community EngagementCommunity EngagementWhat many participants say:What many participants say:

‘‘It wasn’t really a consultation – It wasn’t really a consultation – it had all been decided before it had all been decided before hand’hand’

‘‘I didn’t feel confident to speak – I didn’t feel confident to speak – the atmosphere was very formal’the atmosphere was very formal’

‘‘We had a good session- but then We had a good session- but then heard nothing more about it!’heard nothing more about it!’

‘‘The event was poorly organised The event was poorly organised with difficult access for whele with difficult access for whele chair users’chair users’

‘‘Officers and councillors need to Officers and councillors need to build their capacity to engage build their capacity to engage with communities!’with communities!’

Engagement methods: Engagement methods: how to choose the wrong how to choose the wrong

method…method… Public meetings e.g. Public meetings e.g.

neighbourhood forumsneighbourhood forums Panels and focus groupsPanels and focus groups Surveys e.g. door to door or Surveys e.g. door to door or

on-lineon-line Scrutiny PanelsScrutiny Panels PartnershipsPartnerships World Café techniqueWorld Café technique Open SpaceOpen Space Participative budgetingParticipative budgeting

• Walk about the areaWalk about the area• Live phone in on local radioLive phone in on local radio• Stalls at festivalsStalls at festivals• Use drama and get feedbackUse drama and get feedback• Wishing well…Wishing well…

How to misuse the ladder of How to misuse the ladder of participation….participation….

Five options:Five options:

Support local actionSupport local action

Act jointlyAct jointly

Decide jointlyDecide jointly

ConsultConsult

InformInform

Level Two - consultLevel Two - consult

OptionsOptions• Ask about people’s needsAsk about people’s needs• Identify causes and barriersIdentify causes and barriers• Obtain ideas for improvementsObtain ideas for improvements• Float new ideasFloat new ideas• Ask for views on proposalsAsk for views on proposals• Others?Others?

Using the ladderUsing the ladder

Choose level on the ladder Choose level on the ladder carefully, if possible jointlycarefully, if possible jointly

Higher up you go the more time, Higher up you go the more time, skills and resources are neededskills and resources are needed

Key point: Key point: Public services may Public services may often need capacity building in often need capacity building in order to engage effectively with order to engage effectively with communitiescommunities

A partnership approach to A partnership approach to capacity building capacity building

Agency capacity buildingAgency capacity building is is the learning, resources and the learning, resources and organisational change that organisational change that

increases the ability of public increases the ability of public sector organisations to engage sector organisations to engage with communities effectively with communities effectively

What does What does CommunityCommunity Capacity Building involve?Capacity Building involve?

Engagement Engagement TrainingTraining Peer learning Peer learning

Action LearningAction Learning Mentoring

Community Strengths Community Strengths EmpowermentEmpowerment

Social Capital Social Capital Community Community Learning Learning

The Four Building Blocks of The Four Building Blocks of CCBCCB

Building Skills

Building Organisations

Building Involvement

Building Equality


The four themes originate in a model of community The four themes originate in a model of community development developed in Scotland by the SCDCdevelopment developed in Scotland by the SCDC

Developed in Bradford and published by CDF as Developed in Bradford and published by CDF as Assessing Community StrengthsAssessing Community Strengths by Mandy Wilson and by Mandy Wilson and Steve SkinnerSteve Skinner

They are They are one wayone way to understand and plan CCB to understand and plan CCB

The four blocks can be used at both practice and The four blocks can be used at both practice and policy levels in and with communitiespolicy levels in and with communities

They can also be applied to public sector They can also be applied to public sector organisations.organisations.

Building Skills

Skills is short hand for:Skills is short hand for:

• SkillsSkills• KnowledgeKnowledge• Ways of workingWays of working• ExperienceExperience• ConfidenceConfidence

It can partly be It can partly be about releasing what about releasing what is already there in is already there in communitiescommunities

Forms of learning such as: Forms of learning such as: Training, seminars, Training, seminars,

conferencesconferences

Visits, peer learning, Visits, peer learning, action learningaction learning

Coaching, mentoring Coaching, mentoring

Shadowing, placements Shadowing, placements

Resource packs, on line Resource packs, on line learninglearning

Building Skills

• Each form of learning will Each form of learning will have different pros and have different pros and conscons

• Groups and individuals Groups and individuals will have different will have different learning styles and needslearning styles and needs

• Ideally the content is Ideally the content is based on an assessment based on an assessment of needsof needs

Skills can be Skills can be strengthened by groups strengthened by groups helping each otherhelping each other

Building Skills: Example Building Skills: Example from Wakefield in Yorkshirefrom Wakefield in Yorkshire A leadership A leadership

programme run over programme run over 6 months for 6 months for representatives from representatives from the VCSthe VCS

Training sessions Training sessions looked at leadership looked at leadership skills, assertiveness, skills, assertiveness, groups, partnerships groups, partnerships and how to influence and how to influence policy decisionspolicy decisions

Example: Mentoring for Example: Mentoring for community leaderscommunity leaders

PROSPROS Intensive learningIntensive learning Can provide more encouragement and Can provide more encouragement and

support than course-based trainingsupport than course-based training Can provide role models of more Can provide role models of more

successful organisationssuccessful organisations Personal and organisational links can lead Personal and organisational links can lead

to ongoing networkingto ongoing networkingCONSCONS In some cases, it can involve considerable In some cases, it can involve considerable

staff time to set up and maintain. staff time to set up and maintain.


Community groups and Community groups and networks are more than networks are more than just the individuals that just the individuals that make them upmake them up

They also consist of They also consist of structures, systems, structures, systems, arrangements, arrangements, traditions, links, traditions, links, policies and practicespolicies and practices

So CCB needs to So CCB needs to consider a second consider a second theme of building the theme of building the organisation itselforganisation itself


Why do groups ask for organisational support?Why do groups ask for organisational support?

• A crisis e.g. need to diversify/changeA crisis e.g. need to diversify/change• Members leaving/unhappy/new people not Members leaving/unhappy/new people not

joiningjoining

• Growth in numbers/activitiesGrowth in numbers/activities• New funding demands/opportunitiesNew funding demands/opportunities

• Lost directionLost direction• Develop a network or partnershipDevelop a network or partnership


Example:Example:

Capacity building Capacity building in Little Hulton in Little Hulton area of Salford to area of Salford to help establish a help establish a new residents led new residents led partnership.partnership.

NetworksNetworks

NETWORKS: Research shows NETWORKS: Research shows networks can involve:networks can involve:

exchange of information and exchange of information and viewsviews

giving and getting supportgiving and getting support place to swap skills and place to swap skills and

experienceexperience co-ordination of work in an co-ordination of work in an

areaarea basis for representing a basis for representing a

communitycommunity joint working on a project or joint working on a project or

campaigncampaign



Building Skills



Building Equality


So far – skills and organisationsSo far – skills and organisations Looks at individual learning and Looks at individual learning and

organisational development needsorganisational development needs

But CCB is not a ‘technical fix’ to But CCB is not a ‘technical fix’ to address deficitsaddress deficits

It’s also about empowerment, about It’s also about empowerment, about involvement and about values. involvement and about values.

Activity Activity

With someone With someone else near you, else near you, please talk about:please talk about:

From your From your personal personal experience, what experience, what does does empowerment empowerment mean to you?mean to you?

Definitions of Definitions of empowermentempowerment

People having influencePeople having influence - Labour Government 2009 - Labour Government 2009 White Paper Communities in ControlWhite Paper Communities in Control

Communities running public servicesCommunities running public services -Building a -Building a Stronger Civil Society from Office for Civil Society Stronger Civil Society from Office for Civil Society October 2010October 2010

Communities taking action - The Scottish Government defines ‘community empowerment’ as:

“A process where people work together to make change happen in their

communities by having more power and influenceover what matters to them.”

Definitions of Definitions of empowermentempowerment

Critical understanding causes of Critical understanding causes of deprivation and discriminationdeprivation and discrimination – – Paulo FreirePaulo Freire

Psychological experience of Psychological experience of confidence and self-esteemconfidence and self-esteem – – assertiveness training/women’s assertiveness training/women’s movementmovement

Oxfam’s view on Oxfam’s view on empowerment:empowerment:

‘We can’t empower others on our terms, but we recognise that people’s consciousness and awareness may change as their practical circumstances change.

Empowerment is not something that is ‘done’ to people; it’s about releasing their potential.’


This is about This is about activities, learning activities, learning and change that and change that focus on how people focus on how people get involved in their get involved in their communitiescommunities

It’s also about how It’s also about how groups and networks groups and networks involve people and involve people and contribute to local contribute to local decision-makingdecision-making

Building InvolvementBuilding Involvementor - how to exclude people?or - how to exclude people?

…… I went down the I went down the

centre and got centre and got ignored. Not going ignored. Not going there again!there again!

Betty’s been our chair Betty’s been our chair for years – she runs for years – she runs the group so we let the group so we let her get on with ither get on with it

The meeting had paid The meeting had paid staff talking all the staff talking all the time – not for me!time – not for me!

We always have the We always have the annual bus trip – but annual bus trip – but people are too lazy to people are too lazy to come nowadayscome nowadays

We never see We never see Christina nowadays – Christina nowadays – she’s on that high she’s on that high level committee level committee mixing with men in mixing with men in suitssuits

Building involvement needs Building involvement needs to address five issues:to address five issues:

Access into the Access into the groupgroup

Participation Participation within the groupwithin the group

Participation of the Participation of the group in a wider group in a wider networknetwork

The accountability The accountability of the group to its of the group to its local communitylocal community

The representation The representation of the group by a of the group by a membermember

Equal opportunities in CCB:Equal opportunities in CCB:

Will building skills, organisations and Will building skills, organisations and involvement only strengthen existing involvement only strengthen existing powerful groups in the community?powerful groups in the community?

Will groups on the margins be involved?Will groups on the margins be involved?

Will some groups feel more empowered Will some groups feel more empowered while leaving out others? while leaving out others?

Building Equality

Building Equality – Building Equality – three issues to addressthree issues to address

Building Equality in community groups

Equal opportunities Diversity Cohesion

Diversity – second Diversity – second principle in Equality principle in Equality

themetheme Is capacity building sensitive to different Is capacity building sensitive to different

cultures?cultures?

Do some groups need separate provision e.g. Do some groups need separate provision e.g. some women’s groupssome women’s groups

Does capacity building challenge Does capacity building challenge discrimination?discrimination?

Does it enhance diversity and allow people to be Does it enhance diversity and allow people to be themselves?themselves?

Cohesion – building linksCohesion – building links Can capacity building act to bring people Can capacity building act to bring people

together?together?

Does it keep groups in their different areas?Does it keep groups in their different areas?

Is learning about different groups a part of Is learning about different groups a part of the content?the content?

Can it be a tool to identify shared problems Can it be a tool to identify shared problems and opportunities?and opportunities?

Building Equality

Example:Example: A capacity building A capacity building

programme funded programme funded by a housing by a housing partnership partnership

to build leadership to build leadership and bring and bring communities together communities together in a deprived multi-in a deprived multi-cultural area of cultural area of BirminghamBirmingham

Neighbourhoods Learning Together

North West Birmingham

Urban Living Housing Partnership and Fircroft College

2012


Building Skills



Building Equality

Planning CCBPlanning CCB

It can happen at a number of levels, such as:It can happen at a number of levels, such as:

• A: With one community groupA: With one community group

• B: With a range of community groups in B: With a range of community groups in one neighbourhoodone neighbourhood

• C: Across a whole district C: Across a whole district

Examples of how to use the four building Examples of how to use the four building blocksblocks

CCB with a range of CCB with a range of community groups in one community groups in one

neighbourhoodneighbourhood

How could we get an idea of How could we get an idea of the overall level of community the overall level of community strengths in a strengths in a neighbourhood ?neighbourhood ?

What methods could we use What methods could we use to collect information on this?to collect information on this?

CCB with a range of CCB with a range of community groups in one community groups in one neighbourhood neighbourhood Trident area, Trident area,

inner city Bradfordinner city Bradford Half million population in Bradford districtHalf million population in Bradford district New Deal for Communities ten year New Deal for Communities ten year

regeneration schemeregeneration scheme Trident area 10,000 people with many Trident area 10,000 people with many

different culturesdifferent cultures Some of the most deprived wards in Some of the most deprived wards in

EnglandEngland Fifty groups identified in the areaFifty groups identified in the area New method jointly devised New method jointly devised

•

CCB with a range of community groups CCB with a range of community groups in in

one neighbourhoodone neighbourhood

How: Invitation from groups to assess level of How: Invitation from groups to assess level of strengthsstrengths

Designing a set questionnaire based on the Designing a set questionnaire based on the four building blocksfour building blocks

Survey of 35 community and voluntary groups Survey of 35 community and voluntary groups

Collating the data and presenting it to the Collating the data and presenting it to the groupsgroups

Giving five ‘levels’ of strengths - inviting them Giving five ‘levels’ of strengths - inviting them to decide which levelto decide which level

Action plan to go up a levelAction plan to go up a level

Planning at district level Planning at district level using the four building using the four building

blocksblocks Bradford Council worked Bradford Council worked

jointly with third sector jointly with third sector groups to develop a new groups to develop a new strategy for capacity strategy for capacity buildingbuilding

A new partnership A new partnership involved over 200 involved over 200 community groups and community groups and many different agenciesmany different agencies

Looked at building Looked at building capacity in capacity in both both communities and the communities and the public sectorpublic sector

Building Communities

Strategy

Bradford

Planning at district level Planning at district level using the four building using the four building

blocksblocks Four joint working Four joint working

groups were formed groups were formed working over several working over several monthsmonths

Each one assessed Each one assessed needs for their building needs for their building blockblock

Combined findings Combined findings produced a five year produced a five year strategystrategy

Many VCS groups led Many VCS groups led on initiatives and public on initiatives and public services actively services actively involvedinvolved

Building Communities

Strategy

Bradford

Key themes: The way Key themes: The way forward?forward?

CB needs to involve both communities CB needs to involve both communities and public sector organisations – a joint and public sector organisations – a joint approachapproach

The four building blocks may help as a The four building blocks may help as a frameworkframework

Equality and empowerment need to be Equality and empowerment need to be integral to how CB is organisedintegral to how CB is organised

Key themes: The way Key themes: The way forward?forward?

It’s about recognising and building from It’s about recognising and building from existing strengths – releasing what is there - existing strengths – releasing what is there - skills, talents, knowledge, experience, insights, skills, talents, knowledge, experience, insights, gifts.gifts.

Groups can often support each otherGroups can often support each other

CB needs to recognise diversity in communitiesCB needs to recognise diversity in communities

Work in partnership – act in solidarityWork in partnership – act in solidarity

Capacity Building Capacity Building

www.steveskinnerassociates.org.uk

Capacity Building

Documents

Transcript of Capacity Building