The five inclusive approaches
The toolkitThe core of the framework
In adopting the three pillars that underpin working inclusively, we can begin to focus on how we will work alongside communities. The Kirklees way of doing things is reflected in the five approaches that form the core of our framework. We have taken the feedback and learning from the ICF Design Circles, local and national examples of good practice to provide:
- Descriptors of each approach and why they are important in developing inclusive communities.
- Statements that were produced by partners that they felt described what would be true if we were acting in this way.
- Checklist questions to aid leadership and management discussions and support implementation.
- References to other materials to support your alignment to the ICF.
Learn about each approach
Connection to a place through relationships with its strengths, such as community groups and centres, greenspaces and shared experiences.
Communication is the process by which groups and individuals share their ideas, feelings and thoughts with each other.
Equalising relationships and structures will help create a culture which contributes to the removal of stigma.
Setting the culture of our relationship with communities is fundamental to being inclusive.
The action of celebrating what communities and individuals achieve helps to build a sense of belonging and trust.
Linking the five approaches to community networks
By building on the ICF five inclusive approaches there is an opportunity for organisations to invest in a relationship with Community Networks. We might work with networks initially without knowing what the outcomes are going to be to focus on relationships with people, rather than projects, services or programmes. Organisations should take this opportunity to reflect on how they 'show up' as contributors to these networks as equal partners, trusting that the approach will help us all get to where we need to be.
Learning from community networks during the COVID-19 pandemic
We have applied the ICF inclusive approaches to our learning from working alongside some of the Kirklees community networks during the pandemic, showing what 'good' looks like.
- Importance of building relationships.
- To work together across a place.
- To combine processes, systems, communication to act as one team, with one community response.
- That once engaged, networks want to be part of future dialogue, identifying opportunities for ways the council, health and other institutions can work together more.
- To trust each other, take risks and develop trusting relationships.
- To share power, resources and risks fairly and openly, learning when we get things wrong.
- Not all activity needs to be formalised or resourced; it's the connection that matters.
- The importance of neutral spaces to meet.
- To listen and learn; not try to control a Community Network or its activities.
- The value of external facilitation to help the council, health and other institutions, as well as enabling residents and groups to learn together.
- The council, health and other institutions do not need to respond immediately but instead, can listen to what is shared, reflect and respond later.
- That there are different ways to use online platforms to meet, communicate and collaborate, which are different to those most commonly used by council, health and other institutions e.g. WhatsApp, Zoom, Facebook groups, Cloud storage.
- Community Networks can act quickly and with ease, compared to the council, health and other institutions (speed of response).
- How the council, health and other institution could or would want to shape future joint approaches to activity.
- To bring the knowledge and information that exists within the council, health and other institutions to share with Community Networks.
- The power of informal and hyper-local networks.
- Understand each other's strengths.
- That Community Networks offer new ways of working with and alongside local residents, to reach and address inequalities e.g. Community Champions project and Project Iroko.
- That networks can find and identify those with previously hidden needs and act as a connector with formal services where needed.
