Community development research in Northumberland

Background Information

Running in parallel with a regional scoping study, SRC has been commissioned by the North East Empowerment Partnership and the Northumberland Strategic Partnership to research how a community development service for the County can be delivered effectively. The project will map community development in the county and scope out the potential for a community development service.

It is one of a number of related projects to develop, improve and enhance partnership working, community engagement and empowerment and neighbourhood management.

The key questions that the work will be addressing are:

  • what is the current role, status, profile and position of community development in the county?
  • what potential does it have to contribute to current and future social and economic challenges?
  • what would need to happen to bring community development to the centre of public service reform?
  • what opportunities exist for collaboration and cooperation to form a community development service?

This will involve:

  • mapping community development in the county - its scale, scope, role, remit, resources, etc
  • identifying key issues and highlighting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and potential (particularly in relationship to the delivery of public services and a community development service)
  • making recommendations for the future of community development in the county

Contract period

6 months, February - July 2010.