This seminar offered the opportunity to review the latest evidence, practice and experiences in community-led approaches to reducing poverty.
Get copies of reports and publications from the event, and see the reactions and reflections from the attendees.
There is increasing interest across the UK in supporting community-based activity to meet local needs. In Scotland, this focus on ‘community-led approaches’ is expressed in the Community Empowerment Act (2015).
The main focus for this event was a presentation by Dr Richard Crisp, from the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University, who spoke about the findings in his research report – Community-led approaches to reducing poverty in neighbourhoods: A review of evidence and practice – which was carried out for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This is the first comprehensive review of community-led activities and how these impact on poverty.
There were two events: one in Clydebank, hosted in collaboration with West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership, and in Dundee.
CPWD so proud to host #whatworkspoverty discussion in @ClydeTownHall. great ideas for action and an enthusiasm to get it done
— CPWD (@CPWestDun) September 23, 2016
The attendees had opportunities to:
- learn about the evidence review and discuss the findings first-hand with the lead author, Dr Richard Crisp
- contribute to discussions on how community-led activities could be a mechanism to mitigate and reduce poverty
- discuss approaches to addressing poverty with fellow experts and a panel of researchers and policymakers
- find inspiration and evidence for their strategies and approaches.
Date: 22nd and 23rd September 2016
Location: Clydebank and Dundee
Resources
Presentations and publications
- Dr Richard Crisp, Sheffield Hallam University, Community-led Approaches to Reducing Poverty in Neighbourhoods (PDF)
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation report Community-led approaches to reducing poverty in neighbourhoods: A review of evidence and practice (PDF), published on the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research website.
Presentations at the Clydebank event:
- Dr Claire Bynner, What Works Scotland – Welcome and background (PDF)
- Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, West Dunbartonshire Council, Welcome and introduction to West Dunbartonshire (PDF)
- Bruce Whyte, Glasgow Centre for Population Health – Trends in Health and Inequality in Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire (PDF)
Presentations at the Dundee event:
- Dr Hayley Bennett, What Works Scotland and University of Edinburgh, Opening presentation (PDF)
- Councillor Jimmy Black, Dundee Council, A Fair Way to Go: Report of the Dundee Fairness Commission (PDF) (includes links to Dundee Fairness Commission report and website)
- Professor John McKendrick, Glasgow Caledonian University, Poverty in Scotland: Local opportunities for anti-poverty action in troubled and uncertain times? (PDF)
Watch the Dundee event
This video is also available on YouTube.
Reactions
Brilliant local profiling approach which helps local communities understand inequalities & set priorities for action #whatworkspoverty
— NTSGirfec (@NTSGirfec) September 22, 2016
Community-led approaches to reducing poverty in neighbourhoods:helpful review of evidence+practice https://t.co/ZbtGQaTKIy #whatworkspoverty
— Ilona Haslewood (@ilonahaslewood) September 22, 2016
#whatworkspoverty with @WWScot Dr John McKendrick “Academic voices are not the only ones which should be listened to.”
— Chloë Trew (@chloeawt) September 23, 2016
John McKendrick: if we want to tackle poverty we have to win hearts and minds of general population for change #whatworkspoverty
— What Works Scotland (@WWScot) September 23, 2016
Richard Crisp: Lived experience of poverty matters, not only material poverty @jrf_uk @WWScot #whatworkspoverty
— Anna Terje (@annaterje) September 23, 2016
Richard Crisp: Different types of community-led approaches will have different impacts on poverty. #whatworkspoverty
— Chloë Trew (@chloeawt) September 23, 2016
Reflections
After the event some attendees contributed blog posts and articles reflecting on the knowledge shared though the presentations and discussions.
On the What Works Scotland blog:
- Community-led Approaches to Reducing Poverty – a review of, and comments on, the key points at the event in Clydebank by Ken Gibb, What Works Scotland co-director.
- Time for change – a delegate’s response to Community-led Approaches to Reducing Poverty by Pam Dawson, National Co-ordinator of the Place-based Programme run by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland.
