Building Strong Communities

Product Description

Building Strong Communities is an introductory textbook that contains practical tools, down-to-earth frameworks and useful methods, a valuable resource for working with communities. A key focus of the book is on empowering the grass roots – building people, groups, organisations, partnerships and networks.

In particular, it describes how strong communities might look with seven key features and introduces a new 'Wheel of Participation' as a useful planning framework. Written by a practitioner for both students and other practitioners, the book combines theory and practice, draws on recent research and is packed with practical examples.

This is key reading for community studies, social work or youth and community programmes, and will also be useful in many different settings, such as regeneration, local government, health and housing.

Review

“Brilliant!” ―Alan Twelvetrees, author of 'Community Development, Social Action and Social Planning' Palgrave Macmillan

“This is a welcome addition to the suite of practical resources that help people working with communities to achieve positive change.” ―Fiona Garven, Director, Scottish Community Development Centre and Community Health Exchange, UK

“A great introduction to the key concepts and methodologies of modern community development” ―Kate Faulkes, former Head of Stronger Communities, Communities Directorate, Barnsley Council

Review

Brilliant! – Alan Twelvetrees, author of ‘Community Development, Social Action and Social Planning’ Palgrave Macmillan
This is a welcome addition to the suite of practical resources that help people working with communities to achieve positive change. – Fiona Garven, Director, Scottish Community Development Centre and Community Health Exchange, UK
A great introduction to the key concepts and methodologies of modern community development – Kate Faulkes, former Head of Stronger Communities, Communities Directorate, Barnsley Council

From the Back Cover

This exciting new textbook introduces guidelines, frameworks and a range of approaches to help plan and implement effective community engagement and build community strengths. In particular, it presents a model of capacity building that can inform both practice and policy, with material on how public services can build their own capacity to engage with and support communities more effectively.
This is key reading for any one taking a Community Studies, Youth and Community, or Social Work programme, or anyone working to build and develop stronger communities.

About the Author

Steve Skinner, MA, CQSW, is the Director of Steve Skinner Associates, a well-established consultancy working nationally. He has taught part time at Leeds Beckett University in Managing in the Community and was formerly Director of Community Engagement at the University of Bradford. His work has included being an Associate of the Local Government Information Unit, a national network of local authorities, specialising in community engagement and leadership. He now works for the Local Trust who support community partnerships across England.
Steve Skinner, MA, CQSW, is the Director of Steve Skinner Associates, a well-established consultancy working nationally. He has taught part time at Leeds Beckett University in Managing in the Community and was formerly Director of Community Engagement at the University of Bradford. His work has included being an Associate of the Local Government Information Unit, a national network of local authorities, specialising in community engagement and leadership. He now works for the Local Trust who support community partnerships across England.