Part 23. Community: diverse and inclusive

So, your fellowship is intent on being a good neighbour in an area of deprivation. The first task is to enquire if any other churches are active in the area and if not do you intend to invite them to join you?

Next, what is being done in the area by other organisations? No point in duplication.

Do you know the councillors for the area? Do you have contact details for the organisations impacting on residents? They may be repositories of useful information. Is there a residents' group? Are there buildings in the area which are available for hire?  

 

There will be statistical information on the area contained in Super Output Area information based on the last Census which is available from the council. The information covers income, employment, education, skills & training, health & disability, crime and housing.

Armed with all this information decisions can be made as to what is to be undertaken: direct services or campaigning or both.

Before anything is set in motion there  needs to be disussion with residents.  What are their priorities and concerns?  The residents are a diverse population and have different priorities and needs. You must seek to be inclusive. However it is likely you will make meaningful contact only with a very small percentage of residents. Apathy is the norm. The danger is that a small sample will not be representative.

There are volumes of information on community engagement on the Internet.  Taking on activity in the community may be a daunting prospect but remember, we are called to love our neighbour.

Next: a case study encompassing the above.