Local Level - resolving community issues

We work with local organisations and residents, and with the policy makers and services that have an impact on their areas. We take the view that localism requires both civil renewal and civic renewal.

Our contribution to the development of localism has covered for example:

• work on local participation in Milton Keynes (see our report, Creating greater value, 2009)
• a study for the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council on localism, governance and the public realm, in 2007
• various activities with residents and community development workers in Shipley, West Yorkshire, since 1999 - most recently, on the development of a website for street reps and neighbourhood wardens
• a short strategic review for Watford Council for Voluntary Services, in 2011
• a book on Neighbouring and older people, published by Age Concern England and Community Development Foundation in 2008
• support and workshops with Havelock Independent Residents' Organisation in Southall, west London, 2005-2006
• an evaluation of the contribution that street parties can make to social cohesion, for Streets Alive, 2007.

See also our work in the cultural sector.

In 2008 Local Level ran a pilot project with four library services in England, using the 'living library' process. Living library, pioneered in Denmark, allows someone to 'borrow' a person for a conversation, to explore their experience or interests and to understand other backgrounds and cultures. Our project sought to develop a community development model, taking advantage of the trusted place of libraries in the public realm.   The project was funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and involved Bradford, Bournemouth, Staffordshire and Kent library services. A detailed report, Like a light going on, written by Kevin Harris and Linda Constable, was subsequently published.

In 2004-2005 Local Level worked on a study for the Museums Libraries and Archives Council. The report was written by Kevin Harris and Martin Dudley.   We explored what community cohesion means for public library services and developed a framework for indicators. The report argues firstly that community cohesion is a key component in a broad policy trend characterised as 'civil-localism,' which both challenges and creates opportunities for pluralism and the public realm.   Secondly it argues that community cohesion is a legitimate central focus for library services. Where the public library can demonstrate a contribution to the quality of social relations in local communities it will recover its place as a recognised symbol of the public realm. Download the report here.