Photo: Quito sometimes Marco’s flickr photostream
Since 2004, our Take Part Learning Programme has helped Londoners gain skills, confidence and knowledge for active citizenship through community-based activities. We have supported a wide range of organisations across sectors and across the capital to adopt, adapt and embed Take Part Approaches in their work with communities.
The need for Take Part learning in London has never been more urgent. With the Big Society, Localism and Decentralisation high on the political agenda, the poverty gap widening across the capital and signs of social discontent evident in the recent wave of riots and protests, Londoners should be encouraged to take up new opportunities to articulate their views, have a voice in decision making and lead social change. It is clear that the most disenfranchised will need support to do so.
With support from the Transition Fund, LCF has developed a new programme, Take Part London, to meet this urgent and evolving need.
This report details our review of the latest evidence, research, policy and provision around active citizenship learning needs. It includes:
- A policy review identifying key opportunities and risks for Londoners.
- A review of evidence of active citizenship learning needs in London, bringing together LCF’s community-led action research with recent research by other agencies.
- A mapping of engagement opportunities offered by Local Authorities, the NHS and other agencies, on LCF’s interactive Participation Map.
- A mapping and gap analysis of active citizenship learning opportunities available to Londoners.
- Evidence-based recommendations for best practice in active citizenship learning to meet the needs of Londoners in the coming years.
We are pleased to share this digest of our findings, which should prove a useful tool for anyone developing evidence-based strategies for supporting active citizenship in London.
