Auditing Community Involvement An Assessment Handbook - Area Regeneration Series

Government rhetoric increasingly emphasises the importance of community participation in area regeneration programmes; however, it is far less clear how much those involved are able to effectively influence practice and future policy making. This report looks at ways of assessing levels of community involvement through an audit of participation, so that communities themselves can positively facilitate learning and dialogue for partners and partnerships. Auditing community participation provides tools and appraisal exercises for measuring: the history and pattern of participation; the quality of participation strategies adopted by partners and partnerships; the capacity within partner organisations to support community participation; the capacity within communities to participate effectively; the impact of participation and its outcomes. Auditing community participation is a handbook for those wishing to assess the level of community involvement in regeneration organisations. It can also be read alongside Reflecting realities (The Policy Press/Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2000). The reports are essential reading for all those involved in community-led regeneration groups, policy makers, local authorities and regional and national government, as well as anyone with an interest in community-led regeneration practice.