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Welcome to the third CCRI webinar

1. Land and its Uses (Chris Short) 21st September 1pm 2. The Future of Food (James Kirwan and Damian Maye)

28th September 1pm3. Communities in Transition (Carol Kambites)

5th October 1pm4. Dead Bees, Cloned Cows and the ‘zombie’ rural (Matt

Reed) 12th October 1pmPolicy Conference: 19th October

10/04/10

Countryside and Community Research Institute

‘Community’, ‘Social Capital’ and the ‘Big

Society’: some reflections in the light of our research

Dr Carol Kambiteswith James Derounian

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Contents

1. The importance of researching rural communities2. Three concepts: ‘community’, ‘social capital’ and

the ‘big society’3. Six research projects4. Some thoughts5. References

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The importance of studying rural communities

Rural areas as:•Centres of production•Centres of recreation•Habitats •Places to live

Are rural communities different from urban communities?

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Community

All those people who live in a particular place

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Social Capital

'Those networks and assets that facilitate the education, co-ordination and co-operation of citizens for mutual benefit' (Putnam, 1993)

'The glue that holds communities together':

Bonding social capital:Close links between family and friendship groups

Bridging social capital:Looser links between acquaintances, people who do business together etc.

Linking social capital:Links that extend outside the community including influence on decision-makers and access to external funds

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‘Big Society’The transfer of power and responsibility from

government and local government to local communities

•Right to Build•Right to Buy•Right to Bid

?

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Question 1

If ‘big society’ involves the transfer of power and responsibility from government and local government to ‘communities’ what types of ‘social capital’ does this need and will it be forthcoming?

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The Future of Services in Rural England – a Scenario for 2015, for Defra, 2005

left unchecked, many of the anticipated developments will be socially regressive; need to increase the human and social capital of rural areas; desirability of locally-tailored responses, without abdicating responsibility centrally; lessons from innovation in service delivery such as use of ICT, the coordination of service delivery and the expansion of community enterprise; the need to foster the more coordinated planning of service delivery across both the spatial and social dimensions. 

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Question 2

What impact is the ‘big society’ agenda likely to have on these factors?

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The Social Contribution of Land-based Industries to RuralCommunities, for the Commission for Rural Communities,

2007

the need for devolution of decision-making powers to the local (but not necessarily parish) level;

the advantage of LEADER style ‘community chests’, providing small grants to develop projects, involving land-managers and the community;

The extent to which places and communities differ.

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Clun: a lively community

Hatley: a divided community

Rookhope: a remote ex-industrial community

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Cydcoed Evaluation Project: Exploring the Market and non-Market Values of Cydcoed Intervention, for Forest

Research, 2008advice and support was provided as well as money;

the local was found to be significant;

building confidence and capacity;

environmental benefits appear to be of less significance than the social benefits;

projects have provided some employment opportunities, work for contractors, and some formal qualifications but these are of secondary importance to the social achievements of the programme.

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Adaptation to Climate Change by Local Communities inRural Europe; a Review of Some Recent Experience for the

Arkleton Trust, 2010

many projects were part of a larger initiative eg Transition Towns;

many projects were a response to a local problem e.g. flooding or the rising cost of fuel.

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Question 3

What interventions are needed to encourage community action and will this vary from place to place?

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Local Issues in Rural England – Messages from the Parish and Market Town Plans, for the Countryside

Agency, 2005

1. The various parishes and small towns of England have their own individual sets of concerns,

2. The most commonly expressed concern was road traffic.

1. Other commonly expressed concerns included:• the local physical environment• local services and facilities• socio-economic issues, including unmet needs

of the young, policing and housing

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Strengthening the Role of Local Councillors: an analysis of evidence arising from the CRC participation inquiry

for CRC, 2007

some very good examples of active parish councils;many parish councils did not use their powers to the full;some very innovative schemes for consultation and involving people;confusion about who can do what.

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Question 4

What should/could be the role of parish and town councils in the ‘big society’?

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Some thoughts:

Places will vary both in needs and ability to meet them;Social capital is key and may be increased by local initiatives, but it is likely to be lowest where need is greatest;Need to involve disadvantaged groups;Remote rural areas may have special problems;There will need to be easily accessed funding for local projects;Some of this funding must be continuing.

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Where now for rural community research?

role of parish and town councilshow are community projects initiated?does community action increase with need?who gets involved in community action?involving the uninvolveddo community projects provide employment?Can community action be a substitute for (some) service provision by local authorities and others?

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The Research Projects• Moseley, M. J., et al (2005) The Future of Rural Services, Defra

• Courtney, P, et al (2007) The Social Contribution of Land-based Industries to Rural Communities, CRC

• Powell, J, et al (2008) Exploring the Market and Non-Market Values of Cydcoed Intervention, Forest Research

• Kambites, C. et al (2010) Adaptation to Climate Change by Local Communities in Rural Europe, Arkleton Trust

• Moseley, M.J., et al (2005), Local Issues in Rural England: messages from the Parish Plans and Market Town Health-Checks, the Countryside Agency

• Kambites, C. and Moseley, M (2007) Strengthening the Role of Rural Councillors: an analysis of evidence, CRC

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Further information

• ACRE (2010) ‘Implementing the Big Society’, policy position paper http://www.acre.org.uk/DOCUMENTS/publications/Policypositionpapers/Bigsociety.pdf

• Community empowerment, housing and economic regeneration bill http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Parliament/DG_076367

• Derounian, J. ‘Parish Councils Supporting Communities in Transition’, powerpoint presentation, available from jderounian@glos.ac.uk

• Moseley, M.J. (2009) ‘Glimpses of Rural England 2004-2007: evidence from nine social surveys, Countryside and Community Press, Cheltenham

www.ccri.ac.uk