Today we have launched ‘Tailor Made: how community groups improve people’s lives’, a research project which shows the vital contribution small community groups are making nationally to society and how funders can best support them.
Nearly all of the groups identified as being under the radar, are providing tailored services to their community with an income of less than £2,000 a year. With increasing pressure on public funding, we are using this research that demonstrates the important contribution that community groups make to society as a call to action to secure their future.
The research found that community groups are able to develop ‘tailor-made’ support for people in their communities. They complement statutory services because they have the flexibility to meet specific needs with groups of people or whole communities – providing bespoke support.
The types of outcomes of the work being carried out by these groups include:
- building safer communities: They prevent crime, support victims of crime and support ex-offenders in rebuilding their lives
- improving the physical environment: They maintain and improve the physical environment including parks, allotments and buildings
- improving health and wellbeing: They tackle the wider causes of poor health and wellbeing such as poverty, housing, employment, crime, pollution and isolation
- improving local economies: They provide training and support to help people into work. They also contribute to economic growth by supporting people to start small businesses and helping people to manage their money better so there is more to spend locally.
CDF found that community groups provide lived experience of the issues they are working with and this personal experience provides a unique insight that can complement other forms of expert knowledge. The trust gained by these groups makes people in communities more likely to come forward for help and support.
The research project can be viewed on a unique microsite, as a downloadable document or as a series of chapters on the Tailor-made research page. It was jointly funded by CDF, Asda Foundation and Trust for London.
Alison Seabrooke, Chief Executive of CDF, said:
“‘Tailor-made’ highlights that grants should not be seen as hand outs but as part of a conscious investment in communities. Often the groups that receive small amounts of funding are delivering vital services: anything from offering support for new parents, to more structured programmes like working with ex-offenders or victims and witnesses of crime.
Through our work with the community sector over the past 50 years, we have a unique insight into the contribution they make to society. And our role as a funder means we are able to identify the resources needed to achieve this work and campaign to ensure this funding continues”.
Bharat Mehta, Chief Executive of Trust for London, said:
“Trust for London has a long history of funding small community groups because of the unique role they play in London’s voluntary sector.
“This is a timely report which highlights the strengths and value for money small community groups can provide at a local level, helping to support and empower London’s diverse communities.”