IACD Publications

Tara O'Leary, Ingrid Burkett and Kate Braithwaite

This new report explores what is meant by ‘assets’ and how to appreciate assets - both physical and human - drawing on experiences from across the globe. It presents a holistic overview of asset-based approaches to community development, looking into the assets of people, the politics of assets, and how assets are grounded in places and in communities.

As political, economic and social upheaval brings renewed focus to building capacity in communities, there is increasing recognition that asset-based approaches - as opposed to negative, deficit models – can have better outcomes for individuals and communities.

Ingrid Burkett, one of the report’s authors and President of IACD explains why this is a good moment to explore assets approaches:

"Asset-based approaches to community development offer us both a link to the past and a vision of the future.  Community development has always been grounded in the strengths and potentials of people and of communities.  However we have not always clearly articulated this in our practice literature.  This report aims to incite discussion and dialogue in practice, policy and academic circles about the place of assets approaches in community development.

"The report is also timely given the conversations about the future of community development that are happening around the world, as governments and community organisations alike examine new ways of working with people in communities."

Chief Executive of the Carnegie UK Trust, Martyn Evans, says it is about helping build on the ‘assets’ that are to be found in every individual, group and community:

"The central message is that it is possible to produce remarkable results through the hard work of local people who have learned to build on community strengths rather than dwelling on weaknesses or the absence of abundant resources. Assets are not just the things you can put a price on, they are also about people, skills and opportunities. The report provides a valuable contribution to the debate, raising issues the public and third sectors are now having to consider."

The report was produced by the International Association for Community Development (IACD), with support from the Carnegie UK Trust. It is the outcome of a nine-month enquiry process, initiated at an international event in London in November 2009 which focused on the applicability, challenges and potential of using asset-based approaches in a UK/Irish context.

‘Appreciating Assets’ goes behind the scenes of asset approaches and offers a critical but practical perspective of how these approaches have shaped and will continue to shape community development. As well as tips and checklists, the guide is full of questions that groups and individuals need to consider such as ‘when is an asset a liability?’ and ‘what skills are needed to enable – rather than stifle – community initiative?’. It is important reading for anyone currently working in community development, offering helpful insights for practitioners, policymakers and community members alike.

Please note that the photo on page 38 of this report was provided by the Family Action Centre at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia. http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research-centre/fac/

"The experiences I have shared with my IACD colleagues have strengthened my zeal and passion for being a responsible and devoted person in advancing community development causes across the world and most importantly, appreciating the global diversities that are important for our existence", writes new IACD President Alex Ruhunda in this round-up of the Association's 2007-2008 events and activities.

Although the ABCD approach is well developed internationally and its core values well understood by practitioners in the UK and Ireland, there has been little explicit application of the approach in community development policy and practice. The purpose of this work therefore is to help inform future asset based community development initiatives in the UK.

The report outlines a range of international perspectives from the literature, predominantly that which is published in English. It explores the ways in which the work has developed and some problematic areas and critical voices as well. There are preliminary lessons to be learnt from this experience for those wishing to incorporate an ABCD approach in the UK and Ireland.