Policy Press

Community Groups in Context

Local Activities and Actions

Edited by Angus McCabe and Jenny Phillimore

Published

Jun 13, 2018

Page count

320 pages

Browse the series

Third Sector Research

ISBN

978-1447327783

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 15, 2017

Page count

320 pages

Browse the series

Third Sector Research

ISBN

978-1447327776

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 15, 2017

Page count

320 pages

Browse the series

Third Sector Research

ISBN

978-1447327813

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Mar 15, 2017

Page count

320 pages

Browse the series

Third Sector Research

ISBN

978-1447327820

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Community Groups in Context

In the past decade community groups have been portrayed as the solution to many social problems. Yet the role of ‘below the regulatory radar’ community action has received little research attention and thus is poorly understood in terms of both policy and practice.

Focusing on self-organised community activity, this book offers the first collection of papers developing theoretical and empirically grounded knowledge of the informal, unregistered, yet largest, part of the voluntary sector. The collection includes work from leading academics, activists, policy makers and practitioners offering a new and coherent understanding of community action ‘below the radar’.

The book is part of the Third Sector Research Series which is informed by research undertaken at the Third Sector Research Centre, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Professor Jenny Phillimore is Director of the Institute for Research into Superdiversity. During her five years at the Third Sector Research Centre her interests included small scale community action, refugee and migrant communities and community engagement

Angus McCabe is a Senior Research Fellow at the Third Sector Research Centre at the University of Birmingham. He has a background in community development practice in urban and rural settings in the UK

Introduction: Why get below the radar? The importance of understanding community groups and activities ~ Angus McCabe and Jenny Phillimore

Part One: Scoping and mapping community actions and activities

Below the radar? Community groups and activities in context ~ Angus McCabe and Jenny Phillimore

Getting below the radar: micro-mapping ‘hidden’ community activity ~ Andri Soteri-Proctor

Part Two: Community groups and activities in context

Are we different? Claims for distinctiveness in voluntary and community action ~ Angus McCabe and Jenny Phillimore

Community as policy: reflections on community engagement, empowerment and social action in a changing policy context ~ Angus McCabe

Lost to austerity, lost in austerity: rethinking the community sector in Ireland ~ Niall Crowley

All change? Surviving below the radar: community groups and activities in hard times ~ Angus McCabe and Jenny Phillimore

Part Three: Under-explored radars

The UK Gypsy, Traveller and Roma third sector: a Gypsy industry or route to empowerment? ~ Andrew Ryder and Sarah Cemlyn

Understanding grassroots arts groups and practices in communities ~ Hilary Ramsden, Jane Milling and Robin Simpson

Is there a black and minority ethnic third sector in the UK? ~ Lucy Mayblin

‘More than a refugee community organisation’: a study of African migrant associations in Glasgow ~ Teresa Piacentini

Part Four: Thinking about voice, learning and emotion below the radar

‘Almost a whisper’: black and minority ethnic community groups’ voice and influence ~ Phil Ware

Learning to sustain social action ~ Jenny Phillimore and Angus McCabe

Authentic and legitimate? The emotional role of ‘grassroots’ community activists in policymaking ~ Rosie Anderson

Conclusion: thinking back and looking forward ~ Angus McCabe and Jenny Phillimore