Definition

Community development seeks to empower

individuals and groups of people, with the
skills they need to advocate on their own
behalf, improve their lives, and provide
communities with access to resources
Definition
It is a process that emphasizes the
importance of working with people as they
define their own goals, mobilize resources,
and develop action plans for addressing
problems they have collectively identified
Definition (health
context)
is a process by which a community defines its
own health needs to bring about change. The
emphasis is on collective action to readress
inequalities in health and enhance access to
health care
Method
Community development uses a variety of
methods and activities such as self help work,
outreach, local action groups, lobbying, peer
work, festivals and events, information,
advocacy, group work, network building and
pump priming community initiatives with
small grants
Cont..
The key characteristic of community
development is that it starts from the
experiences and perspectives of communities.
Cont..
In terms of health, local people need to be
enabled or supported to identify the factors
that impinge on their health and the solutions.
It is argued that genuine participation is only
possible when there is involvement in
decision-making and evaluation
The main benefits of
community development
Improving networks in a community, which
approaches
has been shown to have a protective effect on
health.
Identifying health needs from users point of
view, in particular disadvantaged and socially
excluded groups.
The main benefits of
community development
Change and influence, as it enhances local
approaches
planning and delivery of services.
Developing local services and structures that
act as a resource.
Improving self-esteem and learning new skills
that can aid employment.
The main benefits of
community development
Widening the boundaries of the health care
approaches
debate by involving people in defining their
views on health and local services.
Tackling underlying causes of ill health and
disadvantage.