Abstract
This article presents findings from an impact evaluation case study of the UK Coalition government’s Community Organisers Programme (2011-2015). Whilst the program achieved some of its objectives, case study participants raised concerns of how sustainability was understood and practised. Five elements undermined the program’s sustainability: (i) a weak definition of sustainability; (ii) the short duration of the training contract; (iii) an over-emphasis on autonomy; (iv) insufficient training and support for volunteer community organizers, and (v) a lack of progression opportunities. The article concludes the lack of conceptualization of sustainability within the program, and the Coalition government’s commitment to austerity, enfeebled a trailblazing experimentation with state-funded community organizing.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3-20 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Sustainable Communities Review |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 7 Sept 2019 |
Keywords
- community organising
- Coalition government
- sustainability
- Sustainable development
- austerity