In order to make a positive difference to your community, your organisation will need to have a clear understanding of people's issues and needs. 

Involving people

Communities Channel Scotland contains a variety of resources to help you involve people.  By putting your community at the heart of your work your work will be more relevant and responsive to the people you set out to benefit.

It is important to ensure that everyone in your community has the chance to know and to benefit from your work, including groups who are less well-heard. We’ve compiled a range of resources and links to organisations that can help you to involve everyone in your community.

Understanding your community

Another area your community group may need to be strong in is finding out about your communities. This includes understanding the priorities of people in your community, as well as identifying resources, strengths and other assets and features of your community.

Bringing people together

Putting on an event is a great way to achieve all of the above and, of course, a good community event is a brilliant thing in itself. If you’re new to organising one, you might find our list of resources useful.

Increasingly, community groups need to be able to communicate and work using digital technology. We have created a special section covering all the things to think about in order to do this as effectively as possible.

Communities in the Spotlight

See the following examples of how groups have got to know their communities better.

Featured
Enriching and enhancing lives - Cycling Without Age Scotland
Enriching and enhancing lives - Cycling Without Age Scotland

This Spotlight article highlights how people across Scotland with mobility issues and/or living with other challenges, and particularly people in and around Clackmannanshire, are being encouraged to make use of Cycling Without Age Scotland’s pioneering accessible Trishaws. The article illustrates the benefits for participants and volunteers, as well as how a few passionate folk engaging with their wider community can lead to Scotland-wide, and international, connections.

GAINing ground – planning and evaluating with young people in Lewis.
GAINing ground – planning and evaluating with young people in Lewis.

This case study shows how GAIN, a community organisation working with young people in the Isle of Lewis, evaluates its work to demonstrate impact and improve future provision. It should prove a useful resource introducing community organisations to evaluation and community engagement.

Exemplifying excellent practice in community engagement
Exemplifying excellent practice in community engagement

This case study of Portobello Community Council's community engagement shows how good community enagagement ensures that the local community has an opportunity to have their voice heard in decisions which directly impact on their lives.

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