Themes

• Active and delivering
• Inclusive and strong
• Influential and equal

Active and delivering

Across our communities, volunteers and community organisations deliver services that improve lives and meet social, economic, cultural, environmental and educational needs. Community leaders, activists and organisations are ambitious for their communities. They are pro-active in working with key partners to identify and address issues in their communities. As a result of their work those who are disadvantaged by significant changes in society are better able to participate in their communities and progress in their lives. Volunteers manage assets well, sustain provision and run community facilities effectively. There is a high level of volunteering by people of all ages, including young people and those from at risk of being excluded. Volunteers are confident, skilled and committed. Their contributions are recognised, valued and celebrated regularly.

Inclusive and strong

Our community is inclusive, cohesive, resilient and strong. Community members have a clear sense of belonging and increasing pride in their community. Community organisations, groups and leaders recognise that communities are varied, diverse and rarely speak with one voice. They work well with each other and with partners to ensure that almost all sections of the community are included and represented. Their approaches to consultation, engagement and participation are inclusive. Participants in community programmes report feeling valued and welcomed, and experience that their rights are respected. Community networks are inclusive, well developed and they inform and support improvement. Increasingly, equal partnerships between voluntary organisations and public services are helping to develop, strengthen, sustain and improve outcomes for community members.

Influential and equal

Community members of both geographical areas and communities of interest are influential in decisions that affect their communities. Community representatives and organisations can demonstrate how they have influenced change and improvement as a result of their input. Community members are confident to share their knowledge and experience to inform local, regional and national developments as appropriate. Community representatives are valued as equal partners at all levels of community and locality planning. As a result, community planning is increasingly able to identify and address key priorities. Community organisations and public services work together well to co-design, deliver and resource services to best meet community needs.

Challenge questions

1. What is the level of volunteering in our community?
2. Are volunteers representative of the diversity of the community?
3. How well recognised and celebrated is the contribution volunteers and community organisations make?
4. How well are community organisations responding to and addressing local issues?
5. How do we know we are identifying and supporting those who are marginalised or at risk of being isolated in our community?
6. How strong is the sense of belonging and pride in their community amongst community members?
7. How well do we support community members to feel engaged and involved?
8. How effective and inclusive are the networks within our community and how well do we support them?
9. How influential are community organisations and activists involved in decision making structures and processes?
10. How do we know if community involvement is informing and affecting positive change?
11. How well-developed and equal are the partnerships between community organisations, public services and third sector organisations?
12. How effectively do partners involve representatives of communities of interest in decisions that affect their lives?