COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
What is Community Development?
Community Development is an intervention that helps the people of a specific community to organise and respond to problems and needs that they share. The Council's Community Development Department helps to establish new accessible, inclusive services throughout the District that improve health, promote social cohesion, reduce crime and fear of crime, and that have a positive impact on the quality of life for the members of each targeted community.
The department places particular emphasis on meeting the needs of ‘hard to reach groups’ such as young people (under 18’s), older people (over 50’s), disabled people, people with mental health problems, people living in relative deprivation and people that are perceived to be marginalized or excluded in some way.
Although there is some direct provision of services the department largely meets its aims through:
- support to, and leadership of, programmes and projects in partnership with the statutory, voluntary and business sectors
- the introduction and establishment of new community groups and organisations that can sustain ongoing service delivery independently
- training, mentoring and fundraising support to individuals and organisations that are willing and keen to become involved in the delivery of local services
The Community Development Department is responsible for the delivery of the following Council functions:
Arts Development (see Leisure Link)
Sports Development (see Leisure Link)
Leisure activities for disabled people
Leisure activities for people with mental health problems
Leisure Activities for people living in sheltered housing or nursing homes
Community Youth Initiatives
Older Persons Initiatives
Health Promotion
Community Safety
Community Transport Initiatives for older and younger people
Recruitment and training of local leaders and volunteers
Advice on funding for community groups
A video illustrating the work of the department is available to view.
For further information contact community.development@horsham.gov.uk or ring 01403 215385