We are sorry to report that the UK Community Development Exchange (CDX) is to close due to a loss of grant support from government. CDX is the UK-wide membership organisation for community development practitioners. CDX works to ensure that community development is recognised and supported as a powerful way of tackling inequality and achieving social justice. As an organisation with members from across the UK, CDX reflects a diverse range of interests in community development across all sectors and fields.
CDX aims to:
- Create and raise awareness of community development
- Influence policy making and social change
- Strengthen and support community development practice
- Facilitate networking amongst community development workers
Formerly called the UK Standing Conference for Community Development (SCCD) it was set up in 1987 and replaced the earlier Association of Community Workers founded in 1968. It changed its name to the Community Development Exchange in 2003. CDX was open to individuals, organisations and networks who work in communities and/or are involved in community development. CDX worked to influence UK government policy and develop the skills of those working with communities by acting as an information exchange and as a voice to articulate the concerns of communities and community development practitioners.
CDX has over 1000 members in the UK. The membership base was varied and included agencies, projects and teams, networks and individuals from across the statutory, non-profit and private sector, reflecting a wide range of disciplines and community experience. However the leadership of CDX has concluded that subscriptions from its members will not be sufficient to sustain the organisation. As yet it is unclear as to what new arrangements will be established to support community development networking in England. There remain networks in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
NOTE: Readers can find a retrospective report on the work of CDX written six months after its closure by Alison Gilchrist –alison@alisongilchrist.co.uk here Retrospective of CDX
