Community Groups in Context: Local Activities and Actions

by Rosie Anderson (Contribution by), Phil Ware (Contribution by), Teresa Piacentini (Contribution by), Lucy Mayblin (Contribution by), Robin Simpson (Contribution by)

Overview

In the past decade community groups have been portrayed as the solution to many social problems. Yet the role of ‘below the regulatory radar’ community action has received little research attention and thus is poorly understood in terms of both policy and practice. Focusing on self-organised community activity, this book offers the first collection of papers developing theoretical and empirically grounded knowledge of the informal, unregistered, yet largest, part of the voluntary sector. The collection includes work from leading academics, activists, policy makers and practitioners offering a new and coherent understanding of community action ‘below the radar’. The book is part of the Third Sector Research Series which is informed by research undertaken at the Third Sector Research Centre, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447327776
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	04/01/2017
Series:	Third Sector Research
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

Professor Jenny Phillimore is Director of the Institute for Research into Superdiversity. During her five years at the Third Sector Research Centre her interests included small scale community action, refugee and migrant communities and community engagement Angus McCabe is a Senior Research Fellow at the Third Sector Research Centre at the University of Birmingham. He has a background in community development practice in urban and rural settings in the UK

Table of Contents

List of tables and figures v

Foreword Sara Llewellin vi

Series editor's foreword John Mohan vii

Acknowledgements ix

Notes on contributors x

Introduction Why get below the radar? The importance of understanding community groups and activities Angus McCabe Jenny Phillimore 1

Part 1 Scoping and mapping community actions and activities 5

1 Below the radar? Community groups and activities in context Angus McCabe Jenny Phillimore 7

2 Getting below the radar: micro-mapping 'hidden' community activity Andri Soteri-Proctor 27

Part 2 Community groups and activities in context 49

3 Are we different? Claims for distinctiveness in voluntary and community action Angus McCabe Jenny Phillimore 51

4 Community as policy: reflections on community engagement, empowerment and social action in a changing policy context Angus McCabe 71

5 Lost to austerity, lost in austerity: rethinking the community sector in Ireland Niall Crowley 91

6 All change? Surviving below the radar: community groups and activities in hard times Angus McCabe Jenny Phillimore 113

Part 3 Under-explored radars 133

7 The UK Gypsy, Traveller and Roma third sector: a Gypsy industry or route to empowerment? Andrew Ryder Sarah Cemlyn 135

8 Understanding grassroots arts groups and practices in communities Hilary Ramsden Jane Milling Robin Simpson 155

9 Is there a black and minority ethnic third sector in the UK? Lucy Mayblin 177

10 'More than a refugee community organisation': a study of African migrant associations in Glasgow Teresa Piacentini 199

Part 4 Thinking about voice, learning and emotion below the radar 219

11 'Almost a whisper': black and minority ethnic community groups' voice and influence Phil Ware 221

12 Learning to sustain social action Jenny Phillimore Angus McCabe 241

13 Authentic and legitimate? The emotional role of 'grassroots' community activists in policymaking Rosie Anderson 263

14 Conclusion: thinking back and looking forward Angus McCabe Jenny Phillimore 281

Index 291

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This fills a significant gap in our understanding of self-organised community activity, based on a range of original research studies. Essential reading for academics, activists and policy makers alike.” Marjorie Mayo, Emeritus Professor of Community Development, Goldsmiths, University of London

Editorial Reviews

The book provides an insightful picture of BTR groups and social action in communities that is incredibly valuable to anyone wanting to understand more about this aspect of the UK voluntary sector.” Community Development Journal (OUP)

From the Publisher

“This fills a significant gap in our understanding of self-organized community activity, based on a range of original research studies. Essential reading for academics, activists, and policy makers alike.

Marjorie Mayo

“The book provides an insightful picture of BTR groups and social action in communities that is incredibly valuable to anyone wanting to understand more about this aspect of the UK voluntary sector.

Community Development Journal