Community Development for Social Change

Community Development for Social Change provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of community development and associated activities, discusses best practice from global experience and links that to the UK context. The book integrates the realities of practice to key underpinning theories, human rights, values and a commitment to promoting social justice.

A range of practice models are described and analysed, including UK models, popular education and community organising, as well as a range of practice issues that need to be understood by community development workers. For example, strategies to promote individual and community empowerment, challenging discrimination, building and sustaining groups, and critical reflection on practice.

Finally, a range of case studies from the UK and overseas illustrates good practice in diverse contexts. These case studies are analysed with reference to the values of community development, the promotion of social justice and the underpinning theories. It is an essential text for those on community development courses as well as for a range of workers, including local government, national and local voluntary agencies, and community-based organisations.

Dave Beck manages the postgraduate programmes in Community Development at the University of Glasgow. With more than 20 years of Community Development experience, his research interests are rooted in participatory approaches to thinking about and doing empowering practice for social change. He is a member of the International Committee of the Community Development Society. Currently, he is co-editor of the Radical Community Work Journal.

Rod Purcell is a community development worker by profession. He also has an academic background, which includes Director of Community Engagement in the School of Education, and Head of the Department of Adult and Continuing Education at the University of Glasgow. He was a board member of the International Association for Community Development and Chair of the UK Federation for Community Development Learning. Rod is author of several books and many articles on community development. Currently, he is co-editor of the Radical Community Work Journal.