Safety in numbers? sets out the questions that matter to communities, as told to us and prioritised by over three thousand people across the UK. This agenda is the result of a nationally representative process of research and co-creation, which listened to the experience of people about the issues, opportunities and challenges they face in their local communities.
How can communities be supported to take a bigger part in building local economic resilience? What is the role of communities in creating shared strategies to keep people safe? These are our two starting questions, chosen based on community prioritisation of issues set out in this publication. And underpinning each of these – how can we capitalise on the growth informal community capital during Covid-19 to strengthen inclusive community involvement in how we unpick these challenges and find practical and policy- based solutions?
This publication presents a key milestone in our journey to test and evolve the Institute for Community Studies’ model. We will be digging deep on what’s working, who’s innovating and what’s changing in response to those loud cries from communities in these two key areas.
The sharing of this agenda is only the first step. Each of the questions prioritised with communities needs further exploration, through research, engagement, policy or practice. We hope those working with and for communities across the many different areas of social policy and civic life will take up this challenge, listen to the priorities that communities have identified, and use their voices and involvement as a guide to focus their research expertise, funding, policy development and interventions.
If you are interested in working with us – please contact Emily Morrison, Head of the Institute for Community Studies at emily.morrison@youngfoundation.org
Community Posted on: 30 June 2020 Authors: Emily Morrison,