http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/ Community Links Publications en no-reply@community-links.org Copyright 2011 2011-11-23T09:00:18+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/the-triple-dividend-thriving-lives.-costing-less.-contributing-more/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/the-triple-dividend-thriving-lives.-costing-less.-contributing-more/#When:09:00:18Z 'How do we build a society that prevents problems from occurring rather than one that, as now, copes with the consequences?’ This was the question that the Early Action Task Force set out to consider. Early action – building a fence at the top of the cliff rather than running an ambulance at the bottom – has been at the heart of Community Links strategy for 35 years. This approach is frequently voiced in politicians’ speeches but not embedded in public policy. Whilst government spending has been cut over the last year, the rhetoric of preventative approaches has grown. We’ve drawn together a Task Force of experts who share our concerns to consider that paradox and try to understand why common sense is not finding its way into common practice. Early action is sometimes used as shorthand for services for those under five years old. This report is not just about them. Their needs are very important but forestalling problems, not coping with the consequences, is socially and financially a smart thing to do from cradle to grave. The Task Force proposes that early action should be a fundamental principle shaping the way in which both government and civil society spend their resources and judge their success. Investing wisely and early in social wellbeing yields a triple dividend – thriving lives, costing less, contributing more. In this, their first report, the Task Force put forward a set of ideas and initiatives for developing a community that is ‘ready for everything’ – not one that picks up the pieces and counts the cost. 2011-11-23T09:00:18+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/the-teenage-pregnancy-journey/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/the-teenage-pregnancy-journey/#When:12:04:24Z NHS Newham’s Health Improvement and Prevention Programme (HIPP) commissioned Community Links to research to into Newham’s teenage parents and young parents’ social and emotional well-being needs and the related cultural issues amongst different demographic groups. The project used a participatory action research methodology. A small group of teenage and young parents were recruited and trained as peer researchers to shape the research design, conduct 15 interviews and support the analysis and recommendation development. Teen parents undertake a journey from discovering they are pregnant, the pregnancy itself, after the birth, returning to education and employment. This report examines the process and suggests some recommendations which were developed with the teen parent researchers, the teen parents we interviewed and local professionals. 2011-09-14T12:04:24+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/breast-cancer-screening-take-up-project-year-one-report/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/breast-cancer-screening-take-up-project-year-one-report/#When:12:07:14Z Community Links was commissioned by NHS Newham to increase the take up of breast screening by women, residing in the London borough of Newham. This report describes the first year of activity of Community Links’ Breast Screening Uptake project, conducted between January 2010 and January 2011. Community Links recruited a team of six local women, who spoke a combination of languages from the local community. The callers had knowledge of the area, as well as a good understanding of the socio-cultural nuances of local communities. The Team worked with local GP practices and spoke individually to local women to encourage them to attend. As a result the percentage of women invited for screening who actually got tested in the areas covered increased from 50% to 66%. Project report published by Community Links in partnership with NHS Newham 2011-09-07T12:07:14+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/understanding-the-informal-economic-activity-of-refugees-in-london/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/understanding-the-informal-economic-activity-of-refugees-in-london/#When:08:21:03Z The Greater London Authority commissioned Community Links and the Refugee Council to conduct a small scoping study to examine the causes of informal economic activity within refugee communities. This study aims to ascertain if there are ‘refugee-specific’ factors in relation to participation in the informal economy. This report concludes that in the main refugees appear to be doing informal work out of necessity as they are living in poverty. Many face difficulties accessing the formal labour market and barriers to entering the formal economy which were related to them being refugees. The report identifies several challenges including: employers not understanding refugees’ entitlement to work, limited recognition of skills and experience gained in people’s countries of origin, experiences of protracted periods without work during the asylum process and delays in receiving paperwork when refugee status is granted. A series of recommendations suggest practical solutions to the issues uncovered by the research. 2011-04-19T08:21:03+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/tackling-working-age-poverty-programme/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/tackling-working-age-poverty-programme/#When:13:24:11Z Community Links, working in partnership with Church Action on Poverty and others, was commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver one of the four national themed programmes of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010. This report is a summary of the work over the course of the year and some of the early impact. An important focus of the programme was to engage with people of working-age who had direct experience of poverty. The programme engaged 1,199 participants, in a participatory not a passive way, involving them and valuing their input. Many participants commented that they had not been involved like this before and welcomed the opportunity to express their views and listen to others. Throughout this process participants confidence has grown; this experience has encouraged many people to take up additional opportunities to participate in debates and campaigns. 2011-03-29T13:24:11+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/deep-value/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/deep-value/#When:13:04:59Z A Literature Review of the role of effective relationships in public services by Kate Bell and Matthew Smerdon. Deep Value is a term that captures the value created when relationships in public services are effective. In these relationships, it is the practical transfer of knowledge that creates the conditions for progress, but it is the deeper qualities of the human bond that nourish confidence, inspire self esteem, unlock potential, erode inequality and so have the power to transform. These relationships are particularly important in public services. This research project seeks to develop that better understanding in order to explore how this approach might be helped to become more effective and more widely adopted. 2011-03-29T13:04:59+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/tacklingpoverty/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/tacklingpoverty/#When:12:45:49Z As part of our work on EY2010, the Europoean Year of Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion, Community Links in partnership with Church Action on Poverty organised The Tackling Poverty Awards to celebrate projects that are making a meaningful contribution to people of working age living in poverty in the UK. This short publication details some of the community-led projects tackling poverty across the UK. 2011-03-29T12:45:49+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/out-of-the-ordinary/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/out-of-the-ordinary/#When:14:36:40Z A short study by Community Links founder David Robinson explains the Community Links approach to local social regeneration. Drawing on the 33 years experience of Community Links staff, service users, and partners, the study shows how the quality of the user experience at Community Links is determined by the expectations that we hold for the behaviours of our staff and the qualities that we develop in the places where they work. The book concludes with a set of recomendations to government for sustaining, developing and replicating the Community Links model. Collectively these would do more than contribute to the reform of public services. They would transform them. This book is published without a cover price. In an ‘Out of the Ordinary’ approach to charging we trust our readers to have a look at the contents, evaluate it for themselves and send us what they think the book is worth to them. Money received will be used to continue sharing the lessons of what we have achieved in east London. Publication date October 19th 2010 You can: e-mail to request a printed copy Download a PDF version of the book    Make an online donation (credit or debit card)   Join the conversation about the book   Responses to Out of the Ordinary Out of the Ordinary is the story of Community Links at its absolute best. Using the example of Rokeby Hub, this book shares their practical, on-the-ground learning and experience through their relationships with the communities they serve. It then expands this real world knowledge of what genuinely makes a difference into policy and funding recommendations that will genuinely transform our communities and society for the better. I commend this book for anyone who is serious about making a sustainable positive difference in social change. Professor Alex Linley, Director, Capp Timely and to the point, with stimulating real life examples and pertinent ideas for funders – real food for thought. And a good read! Nicola Pollock, Director of grant-making, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation   In this powerful little book David Robinson shows clearly how Community Links’ success is rooted in authenticity – authentic relations at the community level and the holistic embrace of a set of clearly described principles. The book is a challenge to practitioners and policy makers – it shows us how we might realistically transform public services today. Hilary Cottam, Principal Partner at Participle   Community Links really is Out of the Ordinary; I have known and respected Community Links for many years and see it more as an institution than an organisation – modelling a whole new way of working that really does build on the talent, inspiration and know-how of residents, visitors, users and staff alike. This approach injects hope and aspiration into communities the state has traditionally failed. Put simply, this has changed the lives of many who have come into contact with Links. Ben Hughes, Chief Executive, bassac   Voluntary bodies like Community Links have a vital role in preserving an approach which draws together people with different needs, but from a common neighbourhood. In serving that neighbourhood all can find fulfilment. We want a thousand voluntary bodies which reflect the approach of Community Links. Bob Holman, author and community worker   It is characteristically generous and radical of David Robinson and Community Links that Out of the Ordinary, David's exceptional compendium of wisdom about social regeneration drawn from over 30 years of experience, is offered up freely to ‘our readers to send us what they think it is worth to them.’ My view is that what is offered is priceless. Paul Twivy, Chief Executive, The Big Society Network   2010-10-05T14:36:40+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/strengthening-communities/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/strengthening-communities/#When:13:14:08Z Community Links runs a network of 60 different projects. This report focuses on one of our projects, reflecting a small part of the work undertaken by the Community Development team. We have found time and time again that the kind of intense estate-based community action work which has taken place throughout this project, and the strong relationships formed between the project worker and the wider local community, can have a powerful and lasting impact on the lives and the well-being of the people who live here. Request a printed copy 2010-08-06T13:14:08+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/what-young-parents-really-want/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/what-young-parents-really-want/#When:14:54:38Z What young parents really want: Innovative ideas for service providers Young parents in Newham were invited to become Community Links Everyday Innovators, using peer to peer interviews, surveys, brainstorming and creativity techniques to come up with fresh ideas about young parents’ services. This short report details just some of the ideas they came up with to help people who run services for young parents.   2010-05-26T14:54:38+00:00