Community Development

"Community development is a set of approaches undertaken by individuals, informal groups and organisations. We believe it should be practised by all sectors, whether public, private or voluntary.It can be paid or unpaid, qualified or simply experienced.

This modern image of community development is what drives CDF’s work. The role of community development is to support people and community groups to identify and articulate their needs, and to take practical, collective action to address them.

It works with communities of place, interest and identity, helping diverse and competing community voices to be heard. By addressing issues of power, inequality and social justice, it aims to bring about change that is empowering, fair and inclusive. Community development is both a practice and an occupation. Individuals, informal groups and organisations can all practise community development, whether in paid or unpaid roles."

From: About Community Development (2015). CDF: Community Development Foundation. Retrieved from: http://www.cdf.org.uk/content/about-cdf/about-community-development-2/?nav=1