Community Empowerment is about people and government, working together to make life better. It involves more people being able to influence decisions about their communities, and more people taking responsibility for tackling local problems, rather than expecting others to.
The idea is that government can't solve everything by itself, and nor can the community: it's better when we work together.
There are three key ingredients to community empowerment:
- Active citizens: people with the motivation, skills and confidence to speak up for their communities and say what improvements are needed.
- Strengthened communities: community groups with the capability and resources to bring people together to work out shared solutions.
- Partnership with public bodies: public bodies willing and able to work as partners with local people.
What do you think about the idea of community empowerment?
(PS you do not need an account to post a reply - just use 'anonymous' to post. Please let me know if anyone is experiencing problems leaving a message)
In Perth and Kinross Planning Dept there is apparently no place for community empowerment whatsoever. The planning officials see fit to completely disregard the views of the community councils with as much vigour as they disregard their own "planning guidelines"
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