Online Community Empowerment Toolkit launched
An online ‘toolkit’ to support anyone locally to make positive changes in their community has been launched by Community Planning Aberdeen today (Friday 28 February).
The Community Empowerment Toolkit provides tips and information for anyone looking to improve their community, and for anyone looking to undertake effective community engagement.
Councillor Christian Allard, Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council and Chair of Community Planning Aberdeen, said: “We appreciate, understand and value the vital role that communities must play in improving outcomes for Aberdeen.
“This online toolkit gives individuals and groups access to information that can help to them to influence and action improvements that will benefit their local community, which in turn will be good for the city.
“We want all people living in Aberdeen, regardless of their background and circumstances, to be empowered and pro-active in their community. Our ambition is for all communities to become equal community planning partners.”
The online toolkit has been developed through engagement with community members and organisations across Aberdeen, and the Grampian Engagement Network. It is also being supported NHS Grampian’s Putting People First programme.
Anyone who lives in Aberdeen is a member of their local community and as a community member can find a wide range of information including how to contact their local Community Council, where to get help with funding a project, useful data to support projects, and how to connect with existing groups and organisations.
For organisations that are keen to undertake community engagement, the toolkit provides a step-by-step guide, with lots of useful resources to help support effective community engagement.
As well as the Community Empowerment Toolkit, a new introductory training course ‘Foundations of community engagement’ is being offered for all staff.
This course is for staff who want to learn the basics of community engagement and apply these skills as part of their job role. Visit our training and resources page to sign up