The potential benefits and ethical drivers to put neighbourhoods and communities at the centre of designing and delivering support has long been recognised in public policy and practice. For example, within public health, building on local community assets is vital for a more preventative and holistic approach which addressed structural health inequalities, and within social care, strengths-based working is embedded in legislation to promote individual and family wellbeing. Despite this emphasis, there are limited examples of successful and sustained community development in action in recent times, particularly those which are holistic (i.e. not related to the priorities of a discrete policy area) and driven by local people (i.e. not developed by agencies with limited opportunity for genuine co-production).
To explore the opportunities and challenges of community wellbeing, ARC WM have undertaken a study of stakeholder perspectives of an intergenerational approach to working with communities. Together We Can (TWC) is a long-term project in the Firs and Bromford area of Birmingham. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and Big Local, TWC supports neighbours to work together to make their local area a place where people feel welcome, connected, and able to flourish. TWC is not primarily about delivering specific projects or services. Instead, staff walk alongside neighbours, helping people to connect, belong and take part, so that long-lasting local change is done with and by the community, not for them. TWC creates welcoming spaces, groups, and events where people can meet others, share what they know and love, and support one another.
Stakeholders within the public and voluntary sector saw TWC as a community- based partnership which has considerable value to local people and to their work as agencies. Benefits for the community included being: connected (through engaging people peer-support and inclusive events), welcomed (through safe spaces for new arrivals and those in a time of crisis), belonging (through creating pride in the people and environment of the estate), celebrated (recognising ‘unsung heroes’ and volunteering) and supported (through responding to practical need and facilitating access to advice and guidance). TWC was seen to assist other agencies to more effectively carry out their work through providing access to the community, having a good understanding of the interests and aspirations of local people, and increasing uptake of services and support which is available.
For more information, please read the report (PDF) or contact Prof Robin Miller, University of Birmingham (r.s.miller@bham.ac.uk).