Community Engagement
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Transcript of Community Engagement
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Community Engagement
the challenges & rewards
Angela Fletcher.Head of Libraries and HeritageLondon Borough of Sutton
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London Borough of Sutton
• outer London authority• generally affluent, pockets of deprivation• 4 star authority, improving well (CPA
assessment)• cultural services – 3 star• population 182,700• 11% BME population• no strongly or clearly defined group
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Sutton libraries
• part of Cultural Services• flagship service• reputation for innovation &
excellence• best value review – 3 stars• 9 libraries including the Central
Library and the Phoenix Centre
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The Phoenix Centre
• award winning multi use centre
• defined geographical area• leisure, library, youth,
community services• open plan• self service• unstaffed / single staffed• community contacts
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ThePhoenix Centre
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Heritage Service
• 3 historic houses• Whitehall – Honeywood –
Little Holland House• museum service• archives (part of library
service)• traditional service
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Whitehall & Honeywood
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What is communityengagement?
“The process whereby public bodies reach out to the community to create empowerment opportunities.”
(Action plan for Community Engagement Building on Success DCLG and LGA, 2007)
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Challengesmost people don’t engage with strategies or policies..
perceptions•history of dealing with the service or council•jargon and technical language•formal meetings and documentation
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Challenges
we need to:
• recognise this effect•work around it using
different ways• train & encourage staff• listen / encourage•avoid jargon•use social occasions
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Community engagement
has a cost
•staff time, both initially and in follow-up work
•budget, there is no point in raising expectations without following through
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Challengeswe need to:• give weight & conviction to
community engagement work at all levels – political, senior / middle management and on the shop floor
• prioritise those who control budgets or staffing
• allow staff time to work with the community, to build trust and links
• celebrate good practice and give recognition
• build into business plans and LAAs
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Challengesstaff don’t have the skills or confidence to do community engagement work.•massive challenge•part of the culture•can be at every level•shape our workforce in different ways•give opportunities & support to those who ‘can do’•value people / social skills•include in recruitment, appraisals etc•training & opportunities to take risks
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Challengesthe community has unrealistic views or a range of opposing views…
•history of mistrust•apathy / lack of interest•groups with unrepresentative or vested interest views•its not possible to please one group without upsetting another
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Challenges
we need to:
•be honest – don’t mislead•seek wider views• look for compromise•build trust and deliver our
promises• if not – be honest about
why
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Community engagementin SuttonLocal committees:Partners – SCOLA, The Centre for Voluntary ServicesSafer neighbourhood committees
Specific to libraries & Heritage:Friends’ groupsPhoenix consultative groupMiddleton Circle steering group
Examples:Neighbourhood history project,Middleton Circle Lottery projectLocal Access Points
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Rewards
• making a difference – both to individuals and the community
• steering the service – real improvement
• political involvement and support• funding bids• protecting the service• new ideas / inspiration
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Conclusion
there isn’t a right way…
the only way to learn how, is to go ahead and do it…
we’re not all good at it – those of us who aren’t should do everything we can to support those who are…