Asset Based Community Development
Strengthening our Communities
A partnership with Nurture Development in 2019 was the catalyst for major growth in the understanding and use of Asset Based Community Development. Building on the learnings and local stories of ABCD in Essex, the Active Essex Foundation (AEF) developed a workshop to further support this approach and way of working in local communities.
ABCD challenges the traditional deficit-based approach that tries to solve urban and rural development problems, and focuses on what is strong, not what is wrong. It demonstrates that local assets (people and physical assets such as local parks) are key to ensure sustainable community development, and that people have a life of their own choosing. ABCD is the way to build healthier, safer, prosperous and more inclusive communities from the ground up, with communities in the lead.
ABCD is a key part of how the Active Essex Foundation works, however it was recognised through the trained network that local stories and examples of ABCD approaches, hadn’t been shared and there was a lack of understanding in how to relate and implement this approach. With this insight and by working with a network of locally trusted organisations, AEF have been able to successfully launch co-designed projects, to help generate system change.
To date, through the Local Delivery Pilot and with the support of Nurture Development, Active Essex have trained over 350 practitioners in ABCD and in addition, 12 ABCD Influencers. The Active Essex Foundation wanted to develop this further with an Essex-based ABCD workshop, which would create a share and learn community to further enhance this way of working.
There have noticeably been some barriers to an ABCD approach, these include:
- The approach takes time and some organisations do not have this, but results are needed
- Not everyone understands ABCD and the concept
- Some people do not want to/ will not engage in ABCD
Delivered by two facilitators in person, ABCD-E (Asset Based Community Development Essex) is an interactive workshop designed to help attendees understand what ABCD is, how using a strengths-based approach can support the communities we work with, and influence decision makers to think differently about communities. The workshop explores what makes a community and the strengths within it, as well as real examples which demonstrate how this work has been actioned in local areas.
When delivering the workshop, examples of ABCD working in Essex are used and content is tailored to the audience to ensure teams have a relatable experience. Pre-workshop questions are asked as well to ensure the deliverers understand who is in the room and what they may want to get from attending.
A range of partners have been involved in the development of both workshops, and share and learn community of practice. Namely, the ABCD Guides who represent Local Authorities, LTOs, VCS organisations, CVS’, health services and strategic leads have been at the forefront of the co-design of the workshop feeding in format, duration and co-delivering workshops alongside the AEF team. Partners including ECC Public Health, ECC Sustainable Travel, British Triathlon and Royal Mencap Society have all embarked on an ABCD journey, and passionate partners in the Essex Place Partnership areas of Castle Point, Harlow and Thurrock have also received full day ABCD workshops.
Key Learnings
Adapting
Ensuring the workshop is relevant to the audience, lands much better with those in the room
Informal Environment
The Share and Learn network allows a space where agendas are not necessary and being curious work...
Local Examples
Enables the AEF team to share ABCD approaches effectively
Empowering communities and recognising these strengths, is at the heart of ABCD, and also links to the systems sport and physical activity strategic priority; Strengthening Communities. By partnering with local guides and organisations the Active Essex Foundation have been able to become a trusted deliverer of ABCD in Essex sharing key learnings and valuable insight.
