Community Pride is helping people to Take Part!

Our Community Pride Unit is delivering one of 18 local 'Take Part pathfinders', using community-based learning to increase levels of civil and civic activism, participation, consultation, and community leadership in Salford. It aims to build the necessary skills and confidence for participation among citizens, particularly those from more disadvantaged communities. 

The Take Part programme focuses on:

• helping to build a fairer society;
• giving communities the skills to overcome barriers;
• addressing inequality;
• supporting people to become active in their communities;
• encouraging communities to work together to advance their goals.

An interim evaluation report has now been published, highlighting the key themes and trends emerging at this stage of the Take Part programme. The report shows:

• The Take Part programme is increasing civil and civic participation among local people.
• There is evidence of unexpected benefits, such as people moving on to gain further qualifications or new employment.
• Participants are more likely to get involved in volunteering, both in community groups and with public services.
• They have gone on to volunteer in Brownie groups, to form Neighbourhood Watch groups, to work in charity shops and to have a great involvement with their local schools.
• Take Part Pathfinders supported participants in the pursuit of civic roles, with several successfully becoming school governors, councillors or magistrates.
• There is also evidence of benefits cascading to those not directly involved, such as community groups and families.

Download the executive summary or the full report to find out more.