SCIPS : Introduction to our community development toolkits
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SANDWELL COMMUNITY INFORMATION &
PARTICIPATION SERVICE

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Community Development Toolkits

 
 
 
 
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Introduction
 
Working with and amongst the community is never easy but it is potentially very rewarding and fulfilling. This series of toolkits are designed to be a mixture of good practice guides and signposts to help anyone, whether they are new to such work or an established professional who might seek to incorporate them into their daily work ethos. Not all of them will be relevant for everyone, but feel free to browse at your leisure and use what is relevant to your personal needs and circumstance.
 
With backing from the Community Fund until 2006 we will be regularly adding to this series of developmental aids as we progress and develop the website. To be regularly updated as to additions to this section you might therefore like to use our Contact Us page for your contact details to be added to our SCIPS site update service.
     
Online Help to Finding Funding

for August 2008!

 
There are many online resources that are freely available to keep you updated on what is happening in the world of funding - this simple toolkit will help guide you to those resources.
   
Advice for Conversion from paper to electronic based archives.  
   
Advice for groups considering converting from paper based archive material using scanning techniques.  
   
Short Guide To FREE Open Source Alternative Software Available to Groups.
A guide to some of the more popular and easily accessible Open Source software that is freely available. Includes reviews of Office, Desktop Publishing and Image Manipulation software packages - all available to groups for FREE
   
Guide to Free Online Resources for Learning Desktop Publishing  
 
A guide to some of the online resources that can help groups to master desktop publishing software such as Microsoft Publisher and enable them to design and produce quality newsletters, flyers, posters etc for themselves.
 
Developing a Business Plan: Planning for the Future!    
 
A guide to help groups in planning both for their short and long term development.
 
A Help Guide for Planning A Funding Application  
 
A practical guide for some of the do's and don'ts when applying for funding grants.
 
A Self-Help Guide for Finding Funding  
 
Examines some of the funding pots that are available to Tenants & Residents Associations (and Community Groups). This toolkit has been specifically drawn up to be of direct benefit to groups who are based in Sandwell, but much of the information will be relevant to groups from outside the area as well.
 
Guide to Planning & Holding Successful Meetings  
     
Getting right how you plan and conduct your public and private meetings is an essential element of having and maintaining a successful group - use our toolkit to help ensure you get the maximum out of such meetings whilst ensuring you keep everyone in the group on board!
 
Language Is From The Heart Report
 
A good practice guide to overcoming language and cultural barriers when engaging Black, Minority & Ethnic (B.M.E.) communities.
 
Setting Up A Community Group - Getting people to work together
 
A guide into how to get the most out of people when setting up a new Community Group. This guide also looks at how people interact in group situations and how to turn potential conflicts into strengths.
 

If you have any comments, or suggestions for subjects for future Community Development Toolkits please e-mail us your ideas.

 
Researching For Information
 
Any organization whatever its size or purpose has a need for information. This toolkit contains links to a variety of useful resources both at a national and a local level to Sandwell. All the sources provided are authorative in their field and can be relied upon as to the quality of information they provide.
 
Developing a Community Cohesion Project
 

Community Cohesion is high on the Government's current agenda as it rightly should be. However, community groups can promote community cohesion within their own neighbourhoods without having access to large pots of funding. Let us help you by providing a few pointers and suggestions as to how you might begin to develop your own local plan.

 
Developing a Community Group Website
 
Having developed our own website from scratch with no previous experience in web development we considered that we are now in a position where we could help others by recounting our own experiences and how we overcame the difficulties we encountered along the way - please note however this is not a 'software guide' as there are plenty of those available from any good bookshop!
 
Developing a Community Group Promotional Strategy
 
Designed to help local groups such as Tenants & Residents Associations etc develop an affordable and effective promotional strategy for their group in order to attract volunteers, funders etc to their organisation.
 
Organizational Health Checks
 
Whatever size of your organization you will need to be able to demonstrate 'good practice' in a number of areas if you intend to to compete for funding or even just attract local volunteers to 'your cause.' Let us help you develop a professional approach to running your organization - it will pay great dividends in the long run!
 
 
 
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