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.
Table of Content
Introduction: Why get below the radar? The importance of understanding community groups and activities ~ Angus Mc Cabe and Jenny Phillimore
Part One: Scoping and mapping community actions and activities
Below the radar? Community groups and activities in context ~ Angus Mc Cabe 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 Mc Cabe and Jenny Phillimore
Community as policy: reflections on community engagement, empowerment and social action in a changing policy context ~ Angus Mc Cabe
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 Mc Cabe 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 Mc Cabe
Authentic and legitimate? The emotional role of ‘grassroots’ community activists in policymaking ~ Rosie Anderson
Conclusion: thinking back and looking forward ~ Angus Mc Cabe and Jenny Phillimore
About the author
Jenny Phillimore is Professor of Migration and Superdiversity at the University of Birmingham. Jenny is a fellow of the RSA and of the Academy of the Social Sciences with research interests in superdiversity and refugee integration.
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