- wards, specific streets or housing estates - and everyone that lives in, works in, or visits the city.
Our definition of ‘community’ also aims to recognise that different people identify themselves in different ways and that we should be sensitive to this when carrying out any type of engagement activity. Moreover, we must not forget that people who see themselves as members of a
community are also individual citizens.
Citizen: includes children, young people and adults
The places in which we live, work and socialise will often include the people we share our lives, interests and backgrounds with. It may be a place with a physical or locally agreed boundary or simply a shared understanding or ‘feeling’ about a place - this is commonly defined as -
a community of place.
Across the city and within the areas in which we all live some people define themselves in addition to their community of place. This is quite often as part of a group of people with a shared interest or identity/experience -
communities of interest or identity.
A community of interest or identity can include:
• People who often identify themselves or are identified by society, by demographic
characteristics, for example, children and young people, faith groups, older people,
black and minority ethnic people, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people or
people with a shared social background
• People with a shared or similar interest, for example, in climate change, art, a local school
or allotment
• People with a similar or the same profession or place of work, for example, hoteliers,
council workers, police officers, business associations
Engagement
There are many different words used to describe community engagement - ‘participation’,
‘involvement’, ‘consultation’ and ‘research’ are just a few. All are types of engagement. All are equal in merit. However, because we use the term community engagement to mean any and all of them it can be confusing.
The Community Engagement Framework defines community engagement in Brighton and Hove as incorporating the following range of activity (our range of engagement)
• Informing
• Consulting
• Involving
• Collaborating
• Empowering
Four strong messages emerged from the process of developing the Community Engagement Framework about the definition of engagement.
Firstly, that the success of any engagement activity is related to the level of information,
support and training that individuals and communities can access. Therefore, as well as our range of engagement we want to recognise the role, contribution and importance of
community development.
‘Community development is about building active and sustainable
communities based on social justice and mutual respect. It is about
changing power structures to remove the barriers that prevent people
from participating in the issues that affect their lives‘
(The Community Development Exchange www.cdx.org.uk/what-is-community-development)
Secondly, that no single type of activity is more or less important than another. For example, the provision of high quality, accessible and relevant information is as important as providing more opportunities for residents to take control.
Thirdly, that it is important that all engagement is linked to decision-making. Residents and communities must be able to see the impact of giving their time, views and energy.
Fourthly, that any barriers that prevent people getting information, giving their views as part
of a consultation or getting more involved are considered and addressed as part of the activity.
