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Community-led development Powerful change can result from community-led development. Work with communities to identify their issues, involve them in developing outcomes, and take action to support their wellbeing and celebrate their identity. Sometimes change emerges from disaster in unexpected ways such as the Canterbury CityCare/Student Volunteer Army Partnership, (winners of a Recreation Aotearoa Award 2018). Or change can result from a simple twist of fate – like when a space in a low-decile Lower Hutt school became available for growing food. This opportunity seeded the Community Unity Project. There are already a huge number of people doing great work in the community – we’ve simply realised there’s a gap we can fill, in terms of bringing the aspirations of community groups and local government together and supporting volunteer leads or guardians’ [Sam Johnson, SVA, Citycare.co.nz news and views]
What is the key to the success of these two diverse and successful community led projects?
Principles Community Led Development provides a framework for acting on what matters locally. It’s an approach that empowers people to work collectively with one another and with other groups and organisations that have a stake or role in that place. 1 Application of the Inspiring Communities’ Community-Led Development (CLD) principles increases the ability of individuals and groups to realise the potential of their community.
NZRA Insights Report – Fight, Flight or Freeze in the Red Zone
It is not a simple or linear process because communities are complex and changeable. Perspectives and needs change, and diverse ideas will be expressed. Community led development is a ‘way of thinking’ underpinned by 5 principles: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Shared vision Build from strengths Work with diverse people and sectors Collaborative local leadership Learn by doing.
Place-based planning is inherent in these principles. Listen to Janine Sowerby, Senior Planner Urban Regeneration at CCC discuss their award winning approach to supporting community-led, place-based planning through a decision-making framework and online toolkit. The principles outlined in the Recreation Aotearoa Community Recreation Strategy closely mirror those of Inspiring Communities: 1 2 3 4
Recognise and address inequalities Self determination Collective action Sustainability
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Action-reflection.
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