Improving the physical environment

Author:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
Publisher:
Community Development Foundation
Publication year:
2014
Pagination:
9
Place of publication:
London

This paper is part of the Tailor-made series, which aims to demonstrate the valuable contribution that the community sector makes to people’s lives and society as a whole. This paper specifically examines the multiple ways in which community groups improve the local physical environment and the hugely significant value that this adds to society. Key points include: the community sector does a huge amount to help improve the physical environment of local neighbourhoods across the UK; volunteer-led groups are set-up with the goal of improving the local environment and managing or maintaining facilities for their community; community groups are uniquely placed to improve their physical environment - projects that are run by local people are more successful than ‘top down’ projects administered by statutory organisations; community-based environmental projects are good value for money with every £1 invested in environmental volunteering resulting in up to £4 worth of value - their impact extends into multiple aspects of society, so not only does the sector visibly change the landscape of a neighbourhood and its natural environment, it can also affect the health of local people, their sense of community cohesion and local crime rates. This means that environmental projects within the community sector have huge social and economic value. The paper also forms part of the full report 'Tailor-made: how community groups improve people's lives.' (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
voluntary sector, community groups, environment, building design, community centres, gardening, play, social inclusion;
Content type:
research review
Location(s):
United Kingdom
Link:
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Series name:
Tailor-made: how community groups improve people’s lives
Series no:
5

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