From recognition to support: Community development workers in the United Kingdom

This paper discusses the main findings of a major survey ofUK community development workers. The authors also point tosome serious weaknesses facing the community development professionin the United Kingdom that are preventing it from gaining greaterrecognition. Following a review of community development inthe United Kingdom in recent years, its activities and strategiccontexts, the paper highlights three key themes: occupationalinstability and employment, equality issues, training and support.Given the UK policy context, in which considerable emphasisis being given to the importance of involving communities, thearticle argues that policymakers and community development organizationshave a responsibility to find ways of ensuring that the knowledge,skills, and techniques of community development are better understoodand supported.