8 - Networking and partnership

Summary

Introduction

A good community worker has, as a matter of course, a broad network and a range of connections, an understanding about the different layers of organisation and power within communities and how to connect them together, as described by Gilchrist: ‘The organisational and demographic environment in which community workers and activists operate is becoming increasingly dynamic, complex and diverse. Practitioners need to be ever more agile in working across boundaries’ (Gilchrist, 2019, vii). In this chapter we will explore how we can better use our networks to develop strong partnerships for and with communities.

Networking

Networking is about good relationships. It can save time and gives us access to resources. By picking up the phone to call someone in our network, we can more quickly get the answer we need to a problem. Ideas around networking are fundamental to ideas of community; by making connections with others, we can build community and find collective strength. The following quotation describes how relationships make up a sense of community: ‘In modern parlance, community comprises the informal interactions and connections that we use to coordinate everyday life. These links enable us to exchange resources and ideas for mutual benefit and to share experiences in ways that are usually supportive’ (Gilchrist, 2019, 3).

Most of us have social ties across many different communities and we might consider someone tied to only one community as socially isolated. To feel a connection to only one community ‘is both illogical and dangerous’ (Sen, 2006, 106). For example, we may have met migrant women who are victims of domestic violence but feel unable to leave their abusive relationship because, with low English-language skills, little knowledge of UK systems and a lack of friendships beyond their own cultural group, it feels easier to stay, rather than face being ostracised by their community. Sadly, ‘networks also include relationships based on fear, jealousy, animosity and suspicion’ (Gilchrist, 2019, 84). Therefore supporting individuals and communities to build and expand their networks underpins good community development, allowing ‘a form of intelligence gathering, enabling people to gain access to advice, services and resources that they might not otherwise know about or be able to influence’ (Gilchrist, 2019, 94).