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What is Community Capacity Building and exapmle activities

What is Community Capacity Building?

Community Capacity Building aims to build stronger communities by developing stronger links and connectedness between communities and by assisting members of communities to participate in community life and activities.

Community Capacity Building projects encourage residents and community partners to identify key local issues, community assets, resources, networks and partnerships. In this way they support the development of local strategies to respond to local issues and to build on existing community strengths. For example, a neighbourhood group can provide the opportunity for local residents to come together to develop connections with other people in their local area. This can reduce isolation for individuals and builds a stronger sense of community where people want to celebrate the many assets of the community and work together to further strengthen their communities.

Example of Community Capacity Building Activities

· A Rugby Club already running coaching programs for local children, wants to include those who cannot afford the club’s membership fees or uniforms. It has approached the local Neighbourhood Centre and secured their involvement. They are seeking 2 years funding: In the first year with the neighbourhood centre they will hold 4 community events including BBQs at the local oval and offer free coaching and demonstrations to children in the first year. In the second year they will continue working with the Neighbourhood Centre offering clinics whilst developing relationships with a local Service Club with the aim of establishing a funding program that can contribute to the costs of children’s fees and uniforms.

· A seniors’ choir wants to build its membership by recruiting from new members. They are also interested in learning about different singing styles. They decide they will seek new members from culturally and linguistic diverse backgrounds and have approached the local Migrant Resource Centre that is interested in supporting them. They are seeking funding to cover translation of promotional materials, cost of performances at specific cultural centres and interpreters.

· A local community is holding an annual garden festival. There are four key groups who will work together to develop and deliver it: the local Horticultural Society, the Regional Orchid Society, a Neighbourhood Centre and a privately owned nursery. They have identified a number of socially isolated elderly residents who have an interest in gardening but have limited mobility. They seek funds to have an Open Garden scheme in conjunction with the festival, with a shuttle bus service and refreshments for groups touring the private gardens of elderly residents, with a short talk at each stopping point.

· An established youth service enters a partnership with the local primary schools in order to address the needs of children aged 9 to 13. After consultation with schools, Families First workers and Area Health Service the issue of poor diet and limited awareness of healthy food is identified. It is proposed that a “healthy cooking” activity be established. Research also shows Food Technology is a popular elective at the local high school. The youth service and schools jointly develop a package of materials (recipe book etc) for kids. The youth service provides staff for sessions while the schools provide after-school access to a suitable classroom with facilities. A local hotel is asked to send a special guest “chef” along for some sessions. It is proposed to make a DVD about the program and distribute nationally. Funds are required to produce the package in sufficient numbers and fund the first stage of the DVD.