"
Community Development Work is about change; personal, social and
political . The role of the worker is an of agent of change"
(McLellan & Flecknoe)
Main Purpose
of Hitslink Development Work
- To improve
the quality of life of local young people
- To enable Hitslink to develop appropriate policies and practices
Objectives
of Community Development.
- Increase
opportunities for social interaction and collective activity
- Lead to the development of more caring, co-operative and vocal
community networks.
- Improve material resources which local people have created
or negotiated for themselves
- Provide evidence that local communities are taking greater,
individual and collective control, over their lives and that
they are influencing external decision makers
Development Work at Hitslink includes
Educational Support Work
- Casework
for families where a child has been excluded from school or
has special educational needs
- Liaison with local and City-wide agencies to prevent school
exclusions
- Involvement in local initiatives related to Education Action
Zones
Information
and Resources for Families
- Information
system for parents regarding childcare and related issues
Health
Information and Outreach
- Health
rights information and advocacy for individuals
- Pregnancy testing service
- Counselling service at Hitslink (in conjunction with the "Open
Door" Project)
- Pregnancy testing training for female staff within voluntary
projects
- Involvement in local initiatives re Health Action Zones
Support
for Vulnerable Groups
- Liaison
with hostel staff and residents to co-ordinate resettlement
plans and advice provision for hostel residents moving to independent
accommodation
- Liaison with other voluntary and statutory agencies in the
planning and delivery of services for asylum-seekers
Support
for community-based anti-exclusion initiatives
- Representation
of Hitslink at the Domestic Violence Forum and Open Door Project
- Contribution to sundry multi-agency short-term initiatives
(e.g. International Women's day programme)
Statistics
for year ending March 2000 (April 1999-March 2000)
- 20 educational
support cases have been undertaken
- 33 users advised regarding health and health rights
- 40 counselling sessions have conducted
- 10 projects have been supported by development work
