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2. The key components of stronger and empowered communities

There are many different models which list the characteristics of strong communities , the most common elements include:-

• The financial assets – of individuals, families, community organisations, and local private businesses. The financial situation of a community is affected by levels of employment, the amount of expenditure kept within the community, and its income and savings levels. Community groups and organisations attract funding into an area through the grants they attract, contracts they hold, income generated by trading, and money raised through fund-raising. This money is often spent in the community through employment, and purchasing of goods. Families and individuals also gain from support to access appropriate benefit and support services.

• The human assets – the skills and knowledge held within the community, the capacity of community groups and individuals to develop skills and knowledge, and the support available to build their capacity. These skills can support the community control of appropriate neighbourhood assets and enable local people to be involved in neighbourhood management and other forms of democratic neighbourhood representation.

• The social assets – the links that bring people together to work for the common good of their community. It is seen in a clear sense of neighbourhood identity and belonging based upon well-developed social networks. Community based interest groups working well together develop a broader understanding of different communities within an area, promote social cohesion between different communities living alongside each other and can lead to partnership working to tackle common problems. A higher level of community and voluntary activity is one of the criteria for a fully functioning neighbourhood.

• The public services – the range of services available and how well they meet identified local needs. Local people are involved in determining needs and in the design and delivery of public services, often through partnership working. These can include access to community facilities, schools, libraries, services that support community safety and access to affordable transport. Community groups need services that will support and enable them to provide community activities and locally based services and to become involved with consultation, participation and engagement activities.

• The physical environment – includes the built environment, homes and public facilities. It requires a good mix of well maintained housing, with tenures which are affordable to local people, and which are adaptable to meet the needs of people at different stages in their lives. Community involvement can be seen in the design and maintenance of their environment. The physical assets that are owned by the local community for public use, village halls and community centres, playgrounds, faith buildings and parks are some examples.

The models are mainly premised on a common understanding that communities are not ‘broken’ but that they have strengths and weaknesses, and that it is possible to build the resilience and skills of individuals, groups and communities to tackle some community issues.