The key purpose of Community Development work is to build cohesive, active and sustainable communities based on social justice and mutual respect.

Social justice

• Respecting and valuing diversity and difference
• Challenging oppressive and discriminatory actions and attitudes
• Addressing power imbalances between individuals within groups and society
• A commitment to pursuing civil and human rights for all
• Seeking and promoting policy and practices which are just and enhance equality whilst challenging those which do not
• See a region-wide, live Community Development project, the “Mondragon Experiment” at: www.mcc.coop

Participation

• Promoting the participation of individuals and communities - particularly those who are traditionally marginalised and excluded
• Recognising and challenging barriers to full and effective participation
• Supporting communities to gain skills to engage in participation
• Developing structures enabling communities to participate effectively
• Sharing good practice in order to learn from each other

Sustainable communities

• Promoting the empowerment of individuals and communities Supporting communities to develop skills to take action
• Promoting the development of autonomous and accountable structures
• Learning from experiences as a basis for change
• Promoting effective collective and collaborative working
• Using resources with respect for the environment

Self-determination

• Valuing the concerns or issues communities identify as starting points
• Raising people's awareness of the range of choices open to them providing opportunities for discussion of implications and options
• Promoting the view that communities do not have the right to oppress other communities
• Working with conflict within communities

Reflective practice

• Promoting and supporting individual and collective learning through reflection on practice
• Changing practice in response to outcomes of reflection
• Recognising the constraints and contexts within which community development takes place
• Recognising the importance of keeping others informed and updated about the wider context

Working and learning together

• Demonstrating collective working is effective
• Supporting and developing individuals to contribute effectively to communities
• Developing a culture of informed and accountable decision making
• Ensuring all perspectives within the community are considered
• Sharing good practice in order to learn from each other