Social inclusion is the work undertaken to tackle the issues of poverty, disadvantage and discrimination experienced by various people and communities. For example people can be said to experience social exclusion when they have poor access to services, to education, health and employment, or are living on low-income, or at risk of discrimination.
Working with Groups to Address Issues of Social Exclusion
South Kerry Development Partnership works closely with community groups, organisations and state agencies to tackle issues of isolation, inequality and disadvantage that some sections of our society experience.
The partnership has developed its plans to counter social exclusion and isolation through its collaborations with local community organisations, non-government organisations and state agencies. We know from our experience in SKDP, and from our consultations and research that certain areas and groups are at higher risk of experiencing social exclusion. Certain rural areas as well as village and town areas have greater need of support and programmes etc. Also, some people are at risk of discrimination or inequality, for example Travellers, members of the Gay & Lesbian community, people with a disability etc.
What Does Social Exclusion Mean?
Social exclusion has a broader meaning than poverty. Social exclusion is a process whereby certain groups are excluded from participating fully in society by virtue of their poverty (see opposite), education status or other life skills. The process of social exclusion has been defined as: Cumulative marginalisation from production (employment), from consumption (income poverty), from social networks (community, family and neighbours), from decision-making and adequate quality of life.
Social exclusion is a reality for many individuals and communities in Ireland today. An individual may be socially excluded without living in poverty, for example Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) young people living in rural areas may experience social exclusion in terms of victimisation and harassment at school, or social isolation from their family. The effects of these experiences may contribute to high incidence of drug use or mental health issues. And therefore these individuals may be socially excluded without necessarily being at risk of poverty.
What is the Community Development approach
The challenges in this work are complex and require long-term commitment by all concerned – no one group has all the answers. South Kerry Development Partnership works in partnership with state agencies, non-government organisations and community groups to develop projects and programmes to combat social exclusion. Using a Community Development approach these are the actions for 2012 run in conjunction with a range of community groups and partner organisations.
Defining Community Development (extract from Pobal guidelines on the Local & Community Development Programme).
Community Development has long been accepted as an approach which is about enabling socially excluded people to work together in shaping a more just and equal society. It involves tackling inequalities by forming groups (collectivising individual needs), developing knowledge and awareness and working towards the achievement of agreed goals (strategic action). It is therefore a key strategic approach evident both in the goals of the Programme and eligible actions defined later in this document. The DCEGA defined Community Development as being:
“about promoting positive social change in society in favour of those who benefit least from national and global social and economic developments… (it) seeks to challenge the causes of poverty and disadvantage and to offer new opportunities for those-lacking choice, power and resources”
Pobal has defined community development as:
“..a developmental activity composed of both a task and a process. The task is the achievement of social change linked to equality and social justice, and the process is the application of the principles of participation, empowerment and collective decision making in a structured and coordinated way”.
What are the stages of Community Development?
In order to provide LDC and community groups with a basis for engagement the Community Development Stages Matrix was devised. This provides a benchmark for assessment of the current development status of the general community sector and/ or subsets of communities of interest — e.g. Travellers, lone parents, disadvantaged women etc. The Matrix relates these levels to the development task facing community workers — the first stage necessitating pre-development work, the second indicating the need for enhanced capacity and the third pointing towards agenda-setting strategic work.
The Community Workers Cooperative in Ireland identifies the essential, distinguishing elements of community work as work that:
- Involves and enables people to work together to influence, change and exert control over the social, political and economic issues that affect their lives.
- Is about a collective focus rather than a response to individual crisis.
- Challenges inequitable power relationships within society and promotes the redistribution of wealth and resources in a more just and equitable fashion.
- Is based on participative processes and structures which include and empower
- marginalised and excluded groups within society.
- Is based on solidarity with the interests of those experiencing social exclusion.
- Is understood as including both geographic communities and communities of interest.
- Presents alternative ways of working, seeks to be dynamic, innovative and creative in approach.
- Challenges the nature of the relationship between the users and providers of services.
- Is open and responsive to innovation from other countries and seeks to build alliances with other organisations challenging marginalisation in their own countries and globally.
- Involves strategies which confront prejudice and discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, class, religion, socioeconomic status, age, sexuality, skin colour or disability.
Working with groups to address issues of Social Exclusion.
South Kerry Development Partnership works closely with community groups, organisations and state agencies to tackle issues of isolation, inequality and disadvantage that some sections of our society experience.
A Community Development approach is used. This involves building up the strength, knowledge and capacity of the groups to achieve their own goals.
Below are the current areas of work:
For further information, you can contact your local SKDP Office: