CREATING CHANGES
Using Community Development to support small community groups, voluntary organisations and networks in your local area
Community Organising through Inclusive Collective Action
FREE one day training course
Course Code G
Date: Thursday 26 April 2012 Time: 9.30am - 4pm
Friends Centre, Brighton Junction, Isetta, Square, 35 New England St, Brighton, BN1 4GQBooking form available now: 
Creating Changes is a project offering free community development training to a wide range of local support and development organisations, so that they can improve their practice in supporting small groups and networks.
Course aims
This course will support participants to identify and promote approaches to communities organising that address imbalances in power and bring about change founded on social justice, equality and inclusion. In taking part in this course you will be able to reflect on the various ways of organising that encourages participation by wider community members and groups.
Who is this course for?
This is a one day course aimed at community activists and paid and unpaid workers who, within their ongoing roles, support the learning, development and actions of small groups and networks. It is a course for people who are interested in developing their skills, knowledge and understanding of how to use participative approaches to community action and organising. This is the course for you if you are committed to supporting community led and sustainable ways for communities to take actions and influence the decisions that affect the quality of the lives of the communities they are part of. Workers do not need to be generic Community Development Workers. This project is not targeted at statutory/private sector employees but some places may be available for a small charge of £25 if there are places available. Priority will be given to free places for community and voluntary sector participants.
These courses / events are also open to people who are one of the four Creating Changes Demonstration Project community groups. Please tick the box on the booking form section if you are a member of one of these groups.
What skills, qualities and experience do I need?
- You should be able to provide evidence of supporting inclusive and collective working for 6 community groups and networks.* (this does not apply to you if you are an unpaid worker and/or work with a small community/voluntary group)
- You should have an interest in developing skills, knowledge and understanding of how to use Community Development approaches in working with small groups
- To support your continuous learning and development you will be expected to reflect on the skills learnt when working with at least 6 groups* over a period of 6 months. (If you are an unpaid worker and/or work with a small community/voluntary group, you will be expected to reflect on the skills learnt but not in relation to 6 groups). The course tutor will provide you with a process for doing this and FCDL will support you through the tracking process which will include a feedback form.
* If your circumstances do not allow you to support 6 groups but you think this course would benefit your practice please contact Suki Shergill at FCDL on 0114 2536770 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to discuss. We don’t want to exclude people, but the aim of the Creating Changes project is to indirectly improve support to a high number of small community groups and networks.
Please look out for future practice sharing workshops to improve the overall effectiveness of your practice and your continuous professional development.
Learning Outcomes
Course participants will be introduced to practical methods to promote and facilitate informal community development learning as an inclusive and empowering way to support community group work.
Participants will be able to understand creative ways to:
- Reflect on inclusive approaches to community led action, organisation and change while working with groups.
- Identify inclusive ways to support community members and groups to organise and work towards change.
- Be aware of how community development values, outlined in the Community Development National Occupational Standards (CD NOS), and approaches can support democratic group development.
- Discuss themes and issues relating communities facing social, environmental, economic and political change
