New panel to lead way for community development
A new independent expert panel has been set up support the community sector and those working in it.
The panel – set up by the Community Development Foundation (CDF) – will examine the role of community development and the future for people working to strengthen neighbourhoods.
Panel members have been drawn from a diverse range of organisations with knowledge of and insight into community development and social policy. They include the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, London School of Economics, Community Development Exchange and Groundwork Manchester.
Findings from the panel will be published and put to key people in central and local government, as well as being used to inform CDF’s future work.
CDF chief executive Alison Seabrooke said: ‘We are expecting to see big changes in coming years, as public services are delivered in different ways, and decentralisation gives more control to communities.
‘We see a role for community development in the vision for a Big Society and hope to get closer to identifying what that role will be.’
The group, which will consider the themes of context, future and development in relation to the community development sector, is appealing for others to submit their views of and priorities for the sector.
Anyone interested in contributing should visit http://www.cdf.org.uk/cd-panel by 30 July.
A full report from the panel will be issued in October.
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