Community Groups in Context: Local Activities and Actions

Description

In the past decade community groups have been portrayed as the solution to many social problems. Yet the role of 'below the regulatory radar' community action has received little research attention and thus is poorly understood in terms of both policy and practice. Focusing on self-organised community activity, this book offers the first collection of papers developing theoretical and empirically grounded knowledge of the informal, unregistered, yet largest, part of the voluntary sector. The collection includes work from leading academics, activists, policy makers and practitioners offering a new and coherent understanding of community action 'below the radar'. The book is part of the Third Sector Research Series which is informed by research undertaken at the Third Sector Research Centre, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Professor Jenny Phillimore is Director of the Institute for Research into Superdiversity. During her five years at the Third Sector Research Centre her interests included small scale community action, refugee and migrant communities and community engagement Angus McCabe is a Senior Research Fellow at the Third Sector Research Centre at the University of Birmingham. He has a background in community development practice in urban and rural settings in the UK

"The book provides an insightful picture of BTR groups and social action in communities that is incredibly valuable to anyone wanting to understand more about this aspect of the UK voluntary sector." Community Development Journal (OUP) "This fills a significant gap in our understanding of self-organised community activity, based on a range of original research studies. Essential reading for academics, activists and policy makers alike." Marjorie Mayo, Emeritus Professor of Community Development, Goldsmiths, University of London