Forming an action committee:
Intro:
This job can accommodate most worker styles or character
Ex. both quiet determination and extrovert charisma can be equally effective
NB to maintain awareness of the tasks which need to be undertaken in forming
this committee
1. Checking feasibility and desirability
Major brief of community workers – to help form community groups and
encourage and support them to take action
Local people who are in contact with neighbourhood workers have similar
expectations
Factors to watch out for in the community includes:
Existing groups
A group may already exist in the same area, worker may be confident
that it can meet needs of group of individuals who are considering
forming a new group – why duplicate?
Worker may be in position to advise – people may be only semi-aware
of an existing organisation
Example – a crime prevention group – can then use this as the action
committee
Neighbouring groups
A similar action committee or group may exist in a nearby area
Would there be better pay-offs for both areas id interest and commitment
within them were harnessed to one committee?
Areas facing the same problems or fighting for the same solutions
Street groups – more effective in one consolidated group than if each
set up their own
, Potential membership
Likely membership of proposed action committee may be small
If worker is convinced of this – should not allow the group to move ahead
under the illusion that active support will snowball – failure would be
inevitable
Should look for members who are interested in the issue at hand
Timing
Might not be an appropriate time for an informal group to more into a
committee phase
Members may not be strong enough as a collective
May need to wait upon the outcome of one or more external factors
Thinking about strategy
May be more effective to support existing groups or committees than
trying to form a new one, depending on the situation at hand
Ex. area of unemployment – resource centre which offers a base for
taking action
Examining possible alternative or complementary approaches before
making commitment to form an action committee may be a healthy
means of checking feasibility of establishing actions committees
2. Encourage leadership
Searching out and supporting individuals who can become leaders in action
committee is crucial
Caution of moving too quickly to identify community leaders
Looking for certain qualities – who can lead, who can be the speaker, who can
be the secretary etc.
Identifying leadership is a difficult task – most time will be spent on talking
individually with those who have expressed an interest in taking on leadership
roles
Intro:
This job can accommodate most worker styles or character
Ex. both quiet determination and extrovert charisma can be equally effective
NB to maintain awareness of the tasks which need to be undertaken in forming
this committee
1. Checking feasibility and desirability
Major brief of community workers – to help form community groups and
encourage and support them to take action
Local people who are in contact with neighbourhood workers have similar
expectations
Factors to watch out for in the community includes:
Existing groups
A group may already exist in the same area, worker may be confident
that it can meet needs of group of individuals who are considering
forming a new group – why duplicate?
Worker may be in position to advise – people may be only semi-aware
of an existing organisation
Example – a crime prevention group – can then use this as the action
committee
Neighbouring groups
A similar action committee or group may exist in a nearby area
Would there be better pay-offs for both areas id interest and commitment
within them were harnessed to one committee?
Areas facing the same problems or fighting for the same solutions
Street groups – more effective in one consolidated group than if each
set up their own
, Potential membership
Likely membership of proposed action committee may be small
If worker is convinced of this – should not allow the group to move ahead
under the illusion that active support will snowball – failure would be
inevitable
Should look for members who are interested in the issue at hand
Timing
Might not be an appropriate time for an informal group to more into a
committee phase
Members may not be strong enough as a collective
May need to wait upon the outcome of one or more external factors
Thinking about strategy
May be more effective to support existing groups or committees than
trying to form a new one, depending on the situation at hand
Ex. area of unemployment – resource centre which offers a base for
taking action
Examining possible alternative or complementary approaches before
making commitment to form an action committee may be a healthy
means of checking feasibility of establishing actions committees
2. Encourage leadership
Searching out and supporting individuals who can become leaders in action
committee is crucial
Caution of moving too quickly to identify community leaders
Looking for certain qualities – who can lead, who can be the speaker, who can
be the secretary etc.
Identifying leadership is a difficult task – most time will be spent on talking
individually with those who have expressed an interest in taking on leadership
roles
