Community Work Skills Manual 2009

Editor: Val Harris

Published 2009

The Community Work Skills Manual has been informing community development workers for over 20 years. The 2009 edition contains all new material. Techniques and case studies on a wide range of issues, from virtual communities to running green conferences, the 2009 Community Work Skills Manual has it all!

"This manual is extremely comprehensive and will be an invaluable tool for everyone working in the community. It has the added bonus of not seeking to tell you ‘how it must be done’, though the ways and means are made abundantly clear, but succeeds in creating a space for reflecting on your practice and working through options. The local examples give a good grounding in situations everyone will recognise and will have come across at some point or other, ensuring that everyday realities are reflected throughout"

Matt Scott, Community Sector Coalition

"The broad range of contributors is very encouraging, highlighting the diversity of and depth of knowledge within the manual; The summary of the current situation is very useful re the broader policy context and will remain fairly timeless I suspect as its an agenda shared by all the main political parties; Great to have a link to the broader ‘environmental justice’ agenda too – this is very important; The case studies are succinct and just the right length; I would certainly recommend this manual as the text for anyone considering a career in community development or for a very handy guide for all aspects of continuing professional development relating to community development"
Kate Hathway, Urban Forum

This new edition of the very successful Community Work Skills Manual has been produced by the Federation for Community Development Learning. The Association of Community Workers (ACW), who originally created and produced the Skills Manual, no longer exists, and the Federation was asked to continue with the manual. We are very pleased and privileged to do this. Val Harris continues as editor.

The Skills Manual is a well-established resource written by community workers and activists for community workers and activists, and in the new edition we have used your ideas, techniques and case studies on a variety of different topics. Thanks to everyone who has contributed.

The 2009 Skills Manual is a completely new edition and it differs from previous versions because it contains case studies about green themes and environmental issues while still covering tried and tested ideas across all aspects of community development work. Topics covered include:

• Identifying community needs – undertaking research
• Making contact with communities of interest and identity
• Helping groups decide what resources they need
• How to get resources
• Funding and fundraising
• Creating alliances
• Building effective relationships - working with other professionals
• Supporting community representatives
• Communications within communities and between groups
• Setting up new groups – visioning and developing structures and systems
• Supporting existing groups - planning and taking actions
• Supporting existing groups - managing differences/ conflict/ group dynamics
• Working with children
• Community work with young people
• Faith based community work
• ICT for community groups