Why is community development poorly represented online? This is not a comment on the quality of community development websites, so much as an observation about how few websites about community development there are.
Today, I shall list the websites, blogs and forums I have found. I plan to review some of them in future posts, once I get to know them better. If you are aware of any I’ve missed, anywhere in the world, do let me know. There must be more!
Blogs and Forums
NatCAN: National Community Activists Network
This site seems to be a follow-up to the closure of the Community Development Exchange in the UK; it is mainly a forum for its members. The site supports all forms of activism and so it is fairly political, although non-aligned. There are a variety of discussion groups, touching on various aspects of community development and some regional discussion groups. Some of these seem to have very little going on. Definitely worth a look if you’re based in the UK. But watch out for the mysterious starfish!
So far this is the only personal blog I’ve found. Written by a parish priest, this blog includes material about faith-based work. There’s no pattern to posts but it seems to be live at present!
If you know of any other community development blogs, please let me know and I’ll add them to the list!
Websites
United Kingdom
Building Effective Community Ventures
This website is the work of the Association of Bridge Building Churches and promotes a workbook of the same name as the site. People using the workbook can join a Forum. The site claims to have blogs on it; I’m not convinced they’re blogs as we know and love them! May be worth a look if you’re a church seeking involvement in community development.
Centre for Local Economic Strategies
These are the people who own the New Start magasine. They say they are “the UK’s leading independent charitable research and member organisation, with a focus on economic development, regeneration and place-making.” You can join them for £125 a year or else there’s a free newsletter.
Faith-based Regeneration Network
They say “faith-based social action happens when people of faith work together, often with others outside their faith community, to make real and positive change within their local community, or in wider society.” I can’t work out where they have come from but the staff and trustees are from various faith traditions.
I decided to include this one because “Common Purpose runs courses which give people the skills, connections and inspiration to become better leaders both at work and in society” and its reputation is good.
United States
The Asset Based Community Development Institute
This seems to be the keeper of the flame for asset based community development. I shall be writing about abcd in the near future. The website includes a forum which seems to be international.
This site includes a blog, which is be posted a few times a week. The society aims to support community development through “best practices, networking opportunities, tools, and other resources”.
International
Local First is a development approach that looks first for the capacity within countries before bringing in external expertise and resources, recognises that much of this capacity is found outside central government, and understands that local people need to lead their own development.
The site includes a blog with frequent posts.
International Association for Community Development
This site is “an international membership organisation for those working in or supporting community development and is open to both individuals and organisations.” It has a blog which appears to post infrequently.
