Update from Nick Sinclair, Director of the Local Area
Coordination Network
Hello,
Welcome to this month’s Newsletter, I do hope you are well?
As much of the UK prepares to head back into full lockdown, I’ve been reflecting on our learning so far from what has been a uniquely challenging year. I have two main points I’d like to share if I may?
The first is about community, which throughout these difficult times has been so essential, as has the work of those who foster and grow it. Local Area Coordinators have played their role in this, supporting people to overcome any challenges they face in order to live their best lives, connecting with local opportunity and making their contribution as valuable not vulnerable citizens of their communities. Getting alongside people, families and groups in a way that is “Covid secure” has been a massive challenge, and one that Coordinators were only just starting to progress on from as the new lockdowns were announced. This is no doubt a cause for concern and frustration as things seemingly take a step backwards albeit for a much shorter period this time. However, I have no doubt though that our communities will once again embrace their collective challenge, and where Local Area Coordinators are present, they will be there to encourage, connect and support people and groups throughout.
My second reflection is about our principles. Through all of these difficult times what has been encouragingly consistent to me has been the way Local Area Coordinators have passionately held on to the principles that guide their work. Whilst local systems and opportunities may have become more restricted (and restrictive), the Local Area Coordination ‘mindset’, i.e. one that doesn't sees people as service users but as citizens with gifts to share, natural authority and who should be in control of their own lives and future, is one that has not and will not be undone by this dark blip in our history. I remain in awe of their commitment to these principles and to the resilience, passion and positivity I routinely witness from Local Area Coordinators across the Network.
On the 8th of December we will come together to reflect (virtually) with the support of 10 perspectives from 10 engaging speakers on the 10 principles of Local Area Coordination. This will be followed by our National (hopefully global!) Gathering for members two days later, as Coordinators connect, learn and grow by sharing knowledge, ideas and mutual support. Throughout these events we will look towards a brighter 2021, remaining deeply hopeful for future growth of community, Local Area Coordination and moreover a wider collective commitment to the Local Area Coordination principles.
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Useful publications inc. those on Local Area Coordination
and/or Asset Based work
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Asset-based community development for Local Authorities
This guide, produced by Nesta, proposes a way of working that changes the relationship between a local authority, its citizens, and communities by focusing on ‘what’s strong, not what’s wrong’. It explores how to embed and proliferate the use of asset-based community development (ABCD) within local government and lays out the key steps in implementing ABCD, illustrated by real stories that show how the approach can be adapted to suit different contexts and create change within communities. Read more and download the full guide
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Lessons from lockdown
This is the first of three reports from phase one of the MoVE (mobilising volunteers effectively) project, exploring key lessons from the national lockdown. The report presents the first set of findings from 49 semi-structured interviews with a range of stakeholders from England, Scotland and Wales, about their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It presents findings on the lessons learned from the successes and challenges experienced by those involved in coordinating community-facing responses. Read the full report
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Promising approaches revisited: Effective action on loneliness in later life
The Campaign to End Loneliness looks back on the progress made in the work to address loneliness across all four nations of the UK at both national and local levels since the publication of the first 'Promising approaches to reducing loneliness and isolation in later life' in 2015. The report includes a range of positive case studies highlighting different areas of work including Warm Welcome, DevicesDotNow and Local Area Coordination. Read the full report
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Spirit of lockdown
Share your story of lockdown and join a community of story sharers across the country in celebrating the power of relationships and inspiring a conversation about how we can build back better, stronger and more connected. This piece of work is a partnership between the Local Area Coordination Network and The Relationships Project to surface and share the unheard stories of lockdown. Take a look at the website and share your story
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Denise's story and the wider context in York
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Denise shares her experience of Local Area Coordination in York while Joe talks about the wider asset-based community development to create resilient communities.
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Local Area Coordination: Its foundation, Covid-19 and its future in Wales
On 8th October members of the Local Area Coordination Network joined other representatives from Swansea Council and Coastal Housing in leading an online presentation supported by members of the Welsh Government (Julie James MS, Mike Hedges MS and Rebecca Evans MS) about Local Area Coordination and its positive future in Wales.
Nick Sinclair has written a blog about the experience which includes a powerful excerpt from Serena Jones of Coastal Housing. Read the blog
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One of the video presentations from the day: 'Why Local Area Co-ordination Matters to us at Coastal, Family Housing and Pobl'
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“This pandemic has brought into sharp focus what matters to all of us and going back to the way things were before simply is not an option. Local Area Coordination presents an opportunity to turn the world of community development the right way round. It is tried and tested, has an international evidence basis and is a genuinely preventative approach – living and breathing the motto ‘get a life, not a service’. - Serena Jones, Coastal Housing
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Podcast series: Changing it up
We're following on our podcast series 'Changing it up' where hosts Nick Sinclair and Clenton Farquharson chat with people from across the country who have dedicated their lives to changing things for the better in their communities.
In our third episode, Professor Donna Hall talks about communities, the Wigan Deal, changing system cultures, collaboration and leadership.
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You can catch up on the full podcast series on the following platforms: Anchor, Spotify, Breaker, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Google Podcasts, Overcast
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“The thing that's always driven me...is focus on the person, focus on the family, focus on the street, focus on the neighbourhood and wrap initiatives and community support around those people, don't just interact with them like they're just a unit of need!” - Prof Donna Hall
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Implementing the Care Act 2014: You have to be radical to make a difference
Last year the University of Birmingham surveyed different Local Authorities in England about how they were supporting people to live better, with stronger connections in their families and communities. The University has since published a report based on the findings which includes case studies about:
- Local Area Co-ordination / Neighbourhood Networking
- Asset Based Community Development
- Family Group Conferencing
- Strengths based conversations at point of first contact
- Targeted use of personal budgets
Read the full report
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Les Billingham of Thurrock Council talks about their transformation programme and how "you have to be radical to make a difference"
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"My role is to get to know as many people as I can in order to find out what it is that the people want; what people have passion and enthusiasm for; not to do for them and not always support them as the more traditional services but to help them to take action on their thoughts and what’s important to them. I think that’s really the subtle difference but it’s a really important one for what we’re doing because if I step in to support people and take some of that ownership away or lead on some of it, it is actually not about them doing it themselves." - Local Area Coordinator
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#socialcarefuture festival
Later this week #socialcarefuture are hosting an online 3 day drop in festival 'Towards a Brighter Future'.
There are all sorts of sessions going on including:
- 'Communities where we look out for one another' with Nick Sinclair from the Local Area Coordination Network and Cath Barton from Community Circles
- 'A new relationship with communities - Learning from mutual aid' with Prof Donna Hall, Warren Heppolette, Zoe Porter and others.
- 'From community spirit to community power' with Clare Wightman from Grapevine
- 'Valuable not vulnerable - the power of people leading by experience' with Angela Catley from Community Catalysts
- 'Communities, social care and local economies: Bringing conversations together for greater impact' with Sian Lockwood from Community Catalysts, Susie Finlayson from Power to Change and Clenton Farquharson
- And many more!
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Passionate people making a positive difference
If you missed Community Catalysts' recent Passionate People Making a Positive Difference events most of the content is now available here - you can catch up on all the workshop sessions, read about some of the key learning and take a look at the live drawings from the day.
The events launched the findings from the latest report by the University of Birmingham on the case for investment in support of passionate people running community enterprises and community businesses. They also offered opportunities to:
- Learn about the positive effect passionate people have on local economies
- Hear from leading councils and commissioners about the systems and cultures that strengthen community resilience and help community enterprises flourish
- See how community enterprises and community businesses can fill in the gaps between services and how passionate people have been vital through the recent crisis
- Feel the passion from the people in our communities through their amazing stories and experiences.
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Constellations: Joining the dots on grief and loss
The Loss Project has launched Constellations, a new network to create ways for people to come together around grief and loss in their local community.
Constellations are inviting people to join them to test out new ways of connecting, collaborating and commemorating the different losses we experience in our lives within our communities, as well as bringing local people together to support each other around grief and loss.
They're looking for a diverse group of people across the UK who are keen to connect with others in their local area, their community group or street around themes of grief and loss. You should have some connections already in your community, however big or small but your energy and enthusiasm is what they group is really looking for.
You'll join a free learning programme and learn as a collective how people can support each other with a more positive grief and loss culture. Find out more and submit your expression of interest to be involved here
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How to get in touch
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