Neighbourhood Houses? Do they add value to communities?
If you've ever wondered about, or maybe doubted, the benefits to local communities of Neighbourhood Houses such as the Ravenswood Neighbourhood House or the Northern Suburbs Community Centre, perhaps you should read Strengthening Local Communities: An overview of research examining the benefits of Neighbourhood Houses (2005) - a report prepared for the Department of Victorian Communities and available from their Research and Publications webpage.To quote from the Executive Summary: "The importance of the Neighbourhood Houses to disadvantaged and socially isolated groups cannot be understated."
The Executive Summary of this report authored by Jeanette Pope and Dr Deborah Warr is reproduced below.
Executive Summary
In late 2004 a group of Neighbourhood Houses in the City of Whitehorse approached DVC for advice about evaluating whether their services improved social outcomes for participants. The request from the Whitehorse group highlighted the similarities between the objectives of DVC and Neighbourhood Houses, in that they both focus on the idea that the community connectedness that results from social participation can improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
Neighbourhood Houses, of which there are approximately 360 across Victoria, are local
organisations that provide a broad range of community events and social, educational
and recreational programs at low cost. They aim to enhance the social and
economic development of communities and run on principles of inclusive
participation, community empowerment, life-long learning and active citizenship.
The study that is the focus of this report shows that Neighbourhood Houses have a
significant impact on the social and human capital of their participants. At their most simple they build networks that provide people with social support, personal
assistance and self-confidence. They also provide a range of learning programs that
build skills, most notably English language, computer and information technology,
parenting and work skills. These help participants manage daily life, deal with
difficult situations and transition into work, study or other activities.
Participation in Neighbourhood Houses also generates broader community benefits
related to broader connections developed. ‘Looser’ associational networks between
participants, workers and other institutions help people feel part of a community and
become more tolerant of difference. More importantly, for some participants the
positive experiences in the Houses lead them to want to give back to the
community and some become involved in volunteering, House committees, or
decision-making activities in the broader neighbourhood. This further develops
leadership and advocacy skills.
Participants’ reasons for coming to the Houses largely related to their need to
reduce social isolation or social disadvantage. Many made contact because they felt socially isolated as a result of being new to the area, or because their life circumstances had changed through events such as having children, the
death of a spouse or retirement. Others came to try and overcome disadvantage by
changing their life trajectories through skills development (to learn English, to learn to write, to develop work skills) or to find activities to give their life more enjoyment or meaning.
The importance of the Neighbourhood Houses to disadvantaged and socially
isolated groups can not be understated. Although Neighbourhood Houses offer
courses to all members of the community, it is significant that many of their
participants are from population groups that have limited opportunities to
participate in education elsewhere because of cost or entry requirements. The Houses
removed barriers, including cost, to participation by these groups and in some
cases this resulted in these groups having a voice in decision-making processes in
their local area.
Read the full Post!
posted by Alan Melton @ 5:01 pm
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