Working in Community Development Today

Wheeler Hall, St Mary's Cathedral, Leeds, LS2 8BE

10.00-3.00, Tuesday 22 May 2012

Community Development (CD) is enjoying a renaissance in the public consciousness, if not in terms of actual resources for it, and there is renewed interest in the wide and varied roles of Community Development workers and Community Organisers. Many of these workers are in the public sector, mainly health and housing, whose role involves working with communities. Communities can be geographical, ie a particular housing estate, or communities of interest, ie people with a particular health condition.

This event will provide a historical context for the CD role, consider what it means to work in Community Development today and look at some of the tools and learning opportunities available for developing the skills of today's workers.

Funded through the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), the conference is being run by members of a CD Network facilitated by Involve Yorkshire & Humber. The event is also part of Adult Learners' Week 2012, the national campaign for adult learning. For more information visit the Adult Learners' Week 2012 Events diary. There is also a Next Step Careers Helpline available on 0800 100 900.

Who should attend

This event is relevant to:

Present CD workers
Those employing CD workers
Students of Community Development and related subjects
People who would like to explore a career in Community Development

Programme

Keynote speaker - John Low, Policy Manager - Policy and Research for Joseph Rowntree Foundation- The roots of Community Development practice in poverty and protest. John Low was a frontline Community Development worker in the 1970's and has a long perspective on the past and present CD role
Nick Beddow, Chief Executive of the Community Development Exchange - From the perspective of a varied career in Community Development, Nick considers the necessity for political as well as social interventions that can make a difference
Mandy Wilson and Steve Skinner - Fircroft College has been commissioned by LSIS to provide the content for a Community Development toolkit for learning and skills providers. Mandy Wilson will explain the purpose of the toolkit and facilitate participants to explore its content and try out some of the activities it contains
Workshops tackling the question 'What can Community Development do for...'

A provisional programme can be found here.

Price

This a free event. Lunch will be provided.

Book now!

Please complete and return this booking form by Monday 14 May 2012. Places limited.