What is a ‘Community Group’?
A community group is, in the main, comprised of a number of individuals. These individuals may share the same neighbourhood, living conditions and/or a common interest or belief. A community group is often steered by its own passion, commitment and will to provide a service for itself and/or for the wider community to which it belongs or feels empathy for.
Some of the values that bind a community group are:
- being empowered to make decisions for itself,
- mutuality (standing in relation to each other to give support for a cause or an issue);
- equality;
- social justice;
- co-operation
- the importance of a local diversity at a personal level
The value of community groups is more than the sum of its parts. As well as the actual service it provides, a community group also:
- encourages people to take part in their community;
- builds social capital (people with likeminded values and aims working together to improve a community);
- improves local democracy;
- increases feelings of social inclusion (being part of society) and pride for the community and within the community
Aim:
It is the aim of the compact to promote:
- communication with and on the behalf of community groups and it’s individual members
- respect for community groups for their unique insight into society and the community at large
Commitments/Obligations:
For statutory bodies and other agencies to communicate and consult with (which also means listen to) community groups and their individual members;
For statutory bodies and other agencies to proactively seek out community groups which may hold an experience or knowledge in any specific area of present or future development;
For statutory bodies and other agencies to promote, through mechanisms such as induction, the value of communication and consultation with community groups;
For community groups and their individual members to respect the limitations of statutory bodies and other agencies;
For community groups and their individual members to update the public on any major changes in their format or constitution (including updating relevant statutory bodies and other agencies.)
Overview of community groups and their involvement with society through the compact:
The compact itself is a set of values, through codes of practice, to which voluntary, community and statutrory organisations can sign-up to.
By signing up to the compact all parties concerned are agreeing to talk to each other, and more importantly listen to each other to find out what the community, and the individuals it comprises, really need and not what is ‘thought’ they may need. Community groups have their collective fingers on the pulse of their respective communities, their local knowledge, experience and input has a benefit almost beyond measure and the compact ensures this knowledge and experience will be heard and respected.
The compact is a real way real people can improve real lives.