Goldsmiths - University of London

This project focused on the importance of community participation, in developing integrated, sustainable processes of regeneration. In recent years both the mechanisms for achieving change in area based policy initiatives and the understandings and expectations of 'the community' have evolved significantly.

Aims

To explore participants' perspectives on the lessons of their experiences of paticipation in Area Regeneration programmes, for building integrated, sustainable, and democratically accountable structures for community participation.

To explore participants' perspectives on the lessons for providing effective and appropriate support, including technical resources and skills training for community participation.

To explore participants' perspectives on the impact of their involvement, and in particular, their perspectives on their impact, through their involvement in monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; and to explore what lessons are to be drawn for developing participatory approaches to commuity involvement in monitoring and evaluation.

To produce research findings in accessible format for policy makers, voluntary and community sector organisations and trainers.

To make findings available for the development of training materials for the training of participants and relevant professionals.

Methods

The core of the project was an exploration of participants' views in four case studies of communities which have experienced a range of Area Regeneration programmes. Two were in London - Kings Cross and the Greenwich waterfront - and two outside - Aston Newton in Birmingham and Barnsley in Yorkshire. In a complementary piece of work we also produced an audit of good practice in community participation in regeneration programmes.

Publications

We produced an Interim Report in 1998, setting out a literature and examples of good practice; this is available from CUCR. In 2000, the final report was published as 'Reflecting Realities: Participants' Perspectives On Integrated Communities And Sustainable Development' by The Policy Press (link opens a new browser window). For more findings and information, see Joseph Rowntree Foundation.