Community Development

Adept Community Development Agency
Provides community development, training, research, and consultancy services to local partnerships, local authorities, voluntary organisations, community development agencies and community groups across England.

changes
An independent consultancy specialising in community engagement, community development and active citizenship.

Citizens Handbook
A guide to building communities. A Canadian site that offers a concise overview of community organising.

Combined European Bureau for Social Development (CEBSD)
A non-governmental umbrella organisation which brings together a variety of partners from a dozen countries both inside and outside of the European Union. CEBSD members actively promote social and community development.

Community Development Cymru
Membership organisation for community development groups throughout Wales.

Community Development Foundation (CDF)
A UK-wide non-departmental public body which works through local action projects; development and best practice; research, evaluation and policy analysis; consultancy and training; conferences and seminars; information and publications.

Community Development Society
An international association whose mission is to advocate for excellence in the community development profession.

Evaluation Trust
Community development agency which has historically worked at regional, national and international levels to disseminate skills and good practice in participatory evaluation.

International Association of Community Development (IACD)
An international non-profit, non-government membership organisation for people working in or supporting community development.

Scottish Community Development Centre
A partnership between CDF and the University of Glasgow, promoting and supporting best practice in community development throughout Scotland with the aim of building stronger and healthier communities.

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Black and Minority Ethnic (BME)

Black Environment Network (BEN)
UK network established to promote equality of opportunity with respect to ethnic communities in the preservation, protection and development of the environment.

Black Information Link (BLINK)
The main communication channel of The 1990 Trust, a Black charitable organisation working on issues that have an effect on the lives of African, Asian, and Caribbean people in the UK and Europe.

Black Practitioners and Learners' Network (BPLN)
Network for black learners and practitioners, those who work with black adults and anyone interested in challenging racism and promoting cultural diversity in adult education.

BMEspark
Government website aiming to help providers of housing support for black and minority ethnic people work in partnership with councils.

Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO)
Aims to tackle the problems and obstacles affecting BME communities in the UK by securing financial and technical support from BME professionals. Work includes mapping of the minority ethnic voluntary sector, and establishing a BME Voluntary Sector Network.

Ethnic Business Development Corporation
A non-profit organisation, aiming to deliver practical and proactive services to the black and ethnic minority communities in the UK, to enable persons from these communities to achieve self sustaining personal and organisational development. Incorporates employment and training, consultancy, and project delivery.

Institute of Race Relations (IRR)
Conducts research and produces educational resources which aim to be at the cutting edge of the struggle for racial justice in Britain and internationally.

Minority Ethnic Women's Network (MEWN)
An umbrella organisation for Black and Minority Ethnic women with an all Wales remit. Its main aim is to remove barriers to participation faced by BME women in Wales largely by improving access to legal advice and information to BME communities across Wales and addressing the low levels of take up of mainstream advice within these communities.

The Monitoring Group
A charitable organisation providing assistance and support to victims of racial harassment and domestic violence.

The Multi-Cultural Resource Centre (MCRC)
Works to strengthen the active and equitable participation of ethnic minorities in society in Northern Ireland. MCRC has a Community Health and Social Wellbeing Project, an Active Citizenship programme, an Ethnic Minority Youth Group and Ethnic Minority Women’s Development programme and provides support for refugees and asylum seekers.

Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
A voluntary sector umbrella organisation working on behalf of ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland.

RaceActionNet
Brings together practitioners and policy makers from a range of organisations across the UK to share information and learn from experience in dealing with racial harassment locally.

Voice4Change England
National voice for the Black and Minority Ethnic Third Sector.

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Children and Young People

Child Poverty Action Group
Promotes action for the relief, directly or indirectly, of poverty among children and families with children. Seeks to improve benefits and policies for low-income families, in order to eradicate the injustice of poverty.

Children in Scotland (Clann an Alba)
The national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families in Scotland.

Children's Society
Charity working through projects all over England in order to help children and young people find solutions to the very serious problems they face.

Connexions

A youth support and advice service - part of the Government's strategy to ensure every young person gets the best start in life. By 2003 it aims to give every 13-19 year old access to a personal advisor.

National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations
Umbrella organisation aiming to ensure the well-being and safeguarding of children by promoting the voluntary sector’s contribution to the provision of services.

National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
An independent national body that represents and supports voluntary organisations working with young people. It provides opportunities and services to young people either directly at national level or through their regional and local networks.

Young People Now
Website of the weekly magazine for those working with young people. Includes news and events.

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Community Associations and Buildings

Peppercorn rent
For organisations which occupy community premises for charitable purposes. Provides information on leases, commercial market rents, rent grant aid and peppercorn rents. Also lobbies on secure tenure for community organisations, and encourages use of local government powers to provide leases at nominal rents.

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Disability

British Council of Disabled People
Set up by disabled people to promote full equality and participation within society. Representing over 130 organisations run by disabled people, it promotes the social model of disability and is active on a wide range of issues affecting disabled people.

CHANGE
A national organisation run by disabled people, CHANGE fights for the rights of learning disabled people, especially people with learning disabilities who are also deaf or blind.

Disabled Workers Co-operative
An online database of products, skills and services offered by disabled people.

National Information Forum (nif)
A voluntary organisation committed to encouraging the provision of accessible information, by every means possible, for disabled people, asylum seekers, refugees and anyone else disadvantaged in gaining access to information.

National Development Team
An independent not for profit development agency that wants new opportunities and inclusion in ordinary life for all people with learning disabilities.

The Shaftesbury Society
One of the UK's leading Christian charities which works with disabled people and local communities to achieve social inclusion, empowerment and justice.

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Environment

ARENA Network
An independent organisation providing practical support to business and other organisations primarily in Wales on Environment, Quality, Health & Safety and Training related issues.

Black Environment Network (BEN)
UK network established to promote equality of opportunity with respect to ethnic communities in the preservation, protection and development of the environment.

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
UK charity specialising in working with people within their communities to bring about positive environmental change in both rural and urban settings.

Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)
Works with both individuals and organisations on a wide range of initiatives to advance sustainable energy policy and practice. Seeks energy solutions that engage people and communities to meet real needs for both environmentally sound and affordable energy services.

Community Action for Energy (CAfE)
National programme from the Energy Saving Trust to promote community-led sustainable energy projects. They provide information, training and support to help communities set up and run successful energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Do a Little, Change a Lot
Website from the Scottish Executive to raise awareness of sustainable development and environmental issues such as energy conservation, global warming, and waste recycling.

ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns)
An environmental charity which aims to achieve litter free and sustainable environments by working with community groups, local authorities, businesses and other partners across the UK.

The Environment Agency
The leading public organisation for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales, through methods such as regulating industry, maintaining flood defences and water resources, and improving wildlife habitats.

Environmental Data Service (ENDS)
An independent company which publishes environmental information and analysis of developments throughout the UK and Europe. Provides a good source of links to environmental websites and produces a comprehensive and valuable monthly environmental update report.

Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
Exists to support, represent and promote community-managed farms and gardens across the United Kingdom.

Forum for the Future
Channels its work through a mix of consultancy, research, advocacy, education, media provision, and capacity building in the business, government and higher education sectors. Website includes a 'Directory of Sustainability in Practice' detailing case studies searchable by subject and area.

GreenSpace
A not-for-profit organisation set up to help those committed to the planning, design, management and use of public parks and open spaces. Includes a community section, with resources designed specifically to be used by community groups working with urban green space across the UK.

Groundwork
A federation of 47 charitable trusts working in many of the most disadvantaged areas in England and Wales to bring together people, places and resources from all parts of the community in effective long-term partnerships. The purpose is to achieve sustainable communities through joint environmental action.

Regional Futures
The learning network for the English regions run by the sustainable development charity Forum for the Future. Aims to support practitioners based at regional and national level trying to ‘join-up’ regional policy and delivery. Its mission is to inspire good regional policy and delivery through sustainable development.

Sustainable Development International
Aims to educate globally on sustainable development by providing information and knowledge on environmental issues through cross-media platforms.

Sustainable Scotland
Brings together the work under way in Scotland on sustainable development. Offers information on the benefits of sustainable practices, current projects, and who is responsible for driving forward the message of sustainability in Scotland and beyond.

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Equalities

Amnesty International
A worldwide voluntary movement of people who campaign for human rights, independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. Promotes general awareness of human rights and opposes specific abuses of human rights.

The Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ)

An independent non-governmental organisation that works for a just and peaceful society in Northern Ireland by ensuring that the government complies with its responsibilities in international human rights law.

Fawcett Society
UK membership organisation campaigning for equality between women and men. Activities include examining laws and policy proposals and publicising the results, conducting research, and ensure that women’s concerns are at the heart of election debates.

Joint Committee on Human Rights
A Select Committee formed by both Houses of Parliament to consider human rights issues in the UK (but not individual cases) and Remedial Orders.

Justice
An all party, law reform and human rights organisation working to improve the UK legal system and quality of justice.

Liberty
An independent human rights organisation which works to defend and extend rights and freedoms in England and Wales. Works by lobbying government, promoting human rights issues in the media, and pursuing human rights test cases through the English courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

The Monitoring Group
A charitable organisation providing assistance and support to victims of racial harassment and domestic violence.

National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI)
The UK arm of the non-profitmaking organisation dedicated to ending prejudice and discrimination, whether because of nationality, race, gender, religion, class, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, occupation or life circumstance.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Statutory body which aims to ensure that the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland are fully and firmly protected in law, policy and practice.

OneWorld
The UK arm of the OneWorld network, which aggregates the content of over 1,000 partner organisations worldwide working in human rights and sustainable development.

Praxis
A membership organisation advancing the human rights and social justice of people displaced by war, conflict, impoverishment and environmental degradation.

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Evaluation

Faith

Barnardo's CANDL Project
Provides community development consultancy and training to church-based organisations in East and South London.

Churches Community Work Alliance (CCWA)
Initiates, supports and encourages individual and collective vocations and initiatives for community work in the life and mission of the Churches.

Church Urban Fund (CUF)
Funds community projects, which care for marginalised people living in urban areas. Their support enables local workers to tackle the effects of poverty and transform their neighbourhoods

FaithAction
A one stop shop to simplify government procedures for community leaders.

Faithworks
A membership organisation which aims to empower and inspire individual Christians and every local church to develop their role at the hub of their community.

The Inter Faith Network
Network which works to build good relations between the communities of all the major faiths in the UK: Baha'i; Buddhist; Christian; Hindu; Jain; Jewish; Muslim; Sikh; and Zoroastrian.

MultiFaithNet
A research, learning, information and dialogue tool the for study of world religious traditions and communities and the practice of inter-faith dialogue.

Shaftesbury
Focuses on encouraging Christians to respond to the needs of communities throughout the country.

United Synagogue Community Development Department
Committed to enabling and supporting community development across 64 synagogues in London, and seeking to transform communities.

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Funding: Agencies

Awards for All
A grants programme set up to fund projects in the UK which involve people in their community; bringing them together to enjoy arts, sports, heritage and other community activities. Grants are allocated to small groups of between £500 to £5,000.

Big Lottery Fund
Supports charities and voluntary and community groups throughout the UK, as well as UK agencies working abroad, who are working towards meeting the needs of those at greatest disadvantage in society and aiming to improve the quality of life in the community.

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Funding: Directories

Funders Online
Online database of European funders.

governmentfunding.org.uk
Information on grants for the voluntary and community sector from four key central government departments: Department for Education and Skills; Department of Health; Home Office; and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as well as the Government Offices for the Regions.

Grant Tracker
A searchable database on funding available to the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. Includes guidance on how to make applications, and important information on funding sources.

www.trustfunding.org.uk
Fully searchable database of all the grant giving trusts in the Directory of Social Change (DSC) and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) directories. Access is available for an annual subscription fee.

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Gender

Fawcett Society
UK membership organisation campaigning for equality between women and men. Activities include examining laws and policy proposals and publicising the results, conducting research, and ensure that women’s concerns are at the heart of election debates.

Women Connect
A community development initiative working to get women online. Aims to support and encourage the use of the internet in ways that are needed and wanted: to learn; to share ideas with other women's groups; to make voices heard in communities.

YWCA
Works in England and Wales as a force for change for women who are facing discrimination and inequalities of all kinds. Through their network of youth and community projects they support young women experiencing poverty, unemployment, violence and abuse, and campaign to overcome the barriers to their full participation in society.

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Government and related

Compact Working Group
Website of the Compact Secretariat, whose remit is to brief the English Voluntary and Community Sector on the Compact - the agreement between the Government and the whole Voluntary and Community Sector made in 1998.

Consultation Index
Resource run by the Cabinet Office offering a 'one-stop shop' to UK government consultations and giving more information about the process by which you get a chance to have a say on future policy.

DBERR - Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Government department which brings together functions from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including responsibilities for productivity, business relations, energy, competition and consumers, with the Better Regulation Executive (BRE), previously part of the Cabinet Office.

DCLG - Department for Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government sets UK policy on local government, housing, urban regeneration, planning and fire and rescue. It has responsibility for all race equality and community cohesion related issues across Great Britain and for building regulations, fire safety and some housing issues in England and Wales.

DCSF - Department for Children, Schools and Families
Government department that aims to enable all children and young people to reach their full potential. The department will lead work across Government to improve outcomes for children, including work on children’s health and child poverty.

Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
Government department aiming to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)
The government department which aims to achieve sustainable development.

Department of Health (DoH)
Information on the Department's work, as well as health and social care guidance, publications and policy. Includes health statistics, downloadable publications and press releases.

DIUS - Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) brings together functions from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including responsibilities for science and innovation, with further and higher education and skills, previously part of the Department for Education and Skills.

Department for International Development (DfID)
The UK Government department working to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty.

Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)
Government department responsible for delivering support and advice through a modern network of services to people of working age, employers, pensioners, families and children and disabled people.

Directgov
Source of the latest and widest range of public service information. Includes an A-Z of central government and links to local council websites, as well as advice about a huge range of topics, such as tax, foreign travel, parenting, health, and disability rights.

governmentfunding.org.uk
Website from the Directory of Social Change (DSC) giving information on grants for the voluntary and community sector from four key central government departments: Department for Education and Skills; Department of Health; Home Office; and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Government News Network
Publishes press releases for the main UK Government departments and for a wide range of non-departmental public bodies and agencies. Includes regional information; a search facility of news archives; and a portal to government departments and agencies, listed in alphabetical order.

Home Office
The Government department responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales. Aims to work with individuals and communities to build a safe, just and tolerant society enhancing opportunities for all and in which rights and responsibilities go hand in hand, and the protection and security of the public are maintained and enhanced.

Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA)
Established by and for local government, IDeA draws expertise from local authorities, the business world, professional service firms, not for profit organisations as well as other parts of the public sector.

Information for Local Government from Central Government (info4local)
Website providing the first online one-stop gateway for local authorities to get quick and easy access to local government-related information that is published on the web sites of central government departments and agencies.

Local Government Association (LGA)
Represents all local authorities in England and Wales – a total of just under 500, as well as police authorities, fire authorities and passenger transport authorities.

Local Government Information Unit (LGIU)
An independent research and information organisation supported by over 150 councils and the local government trade unions.

National Assembly for Wales
Includes general information, news, statistics and publications for the Welsh Assembly.

New Local Government Network (NLGN)
A non-profit making, independent think-tank, that seeks to transform public services, revitalise local political leadership and empower local communities. Works closely with individual authorities, national agencies, Government and the private sector to promote ideas about how these objectives can be achieved in practice.

Northern Ireland Assembly
The prime source of authority for all devolved responsibilities in Northern Ireland, with full legislative and executive authority.

Parliament
Source of information about the United Kingdom Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Scottish Executive
The devolved government for Scotland, responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport, and manages an annual budget of around 20 billion.

Scottish Parliament
Offers general information, advice on petitioning the Parliament, and an online library including Bills, the Business Bulletin, Outstanding Motions, all Committee papers and reports, and research.

Strategy Unit
Formed in July 2002 to provide a clear focus for strategic thinking and policy analysis at the heart of Government. The Unit will carry out long-term strategic reviews and policy analysis.

10 Downing Street
Includes lobby briefings, Prime Minster's questions archive and Cabinet information.

Treasury
The department responsible for formulating and putting into effect the UK Government's financial and economic policy. The Treasury's overall aim is to raise the rate of sustainable growth, and achieve rising prosperity, through creating economic and employment opportunities for all.

Wales Office
Came into being in July 1999 when most of the powers of the Welsh Office were handed over to the National Assembly for Wales. Based in Whitehall, the Secretary of State for Wales is the key Government figure liaising with the devolved administration in Wales and represents Wales’ interests in the Cabinet and in Parliament.

Welsh Local Government Association
Represents and promotes the interests of the new unitary local authorities in Wales.

Write to Them.com
Website offering a simple way to contact your Councillors, MP, MEPs, MSPs, or Welsh and London Assembly Members with your questions and comments for free.

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Health

The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH)
An independent, non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department of Health. Its remit is to ensure that the public is involved in decision making about health and health services in England, through initiatives such as Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums.

Community Development & Health Network for Northern Ireland
A voluntary membership organisation which is committed to promoting and supporting community action on health issues in Northern Ireland.

Democratic Health Network (DHN)
A subscription-based network, set up by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) to provide policy advice, information, research, and a forum for the exchange of good practice on the developing relationship between local government and health.

Department of Health
Information on the Department's work, as well as health and social care guidance, publications and policy. Includes health statistics, downloadable publications and press releases.

Men's Health Forum
The UK voluntary organisation working to improve the health of men of all ages. Includes news, information, events and discussion on all aspects of men's health policy.

Mental Health Matters
National organisation promoting the health and well-being of people with mental health problems and their families/carers.

NatPaCT (National Primary and Care Trust Development Programme)
An online tool which aims to explain and support Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). Includes an organisational competency framework and a discussion forum.

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Health
A UK website dedicated to using social marketing and edutainment (entertainment/education) to tackle health inequalities. The site shows how to use social marketing to find out what different target groups are interested in and then suggests way of linking these to health.

UK Public Health Association (UKPHA)
A multidisciplinary membership organisation, bringing together individuals and organisations from all sectors who share a common commitment to promoting the public’s health. Acts as an information platform and aims to support those working in public health both professionally or in a voluntary capacity.

Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care (WORD)
Commissions, manages and disseminates high quality research in health and social care issues in Wales within the policies, priorities and funding framework set by the National Assembly.

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Housing and Homelessness

BMEspark
Government website aiming to help providers of housing support for black and minority ethnic people work in partnership with councils.

Communities taking control
This website is about communities in England setting up community initiatives to tackle issues important to them.

Groundswell
A UK charity that supports a network of people and projects committed to inclusive approaches to tackling homelessness, poverty and exclusion.

Homeless Pages
A comprehensive guide to information about homelessness, providing an introduction to homelessness, plus a database of resources, including research reports, directories, training courses and websites.

The Housing Corporation
A UK government agency whose role is to fund, regulate and facilitate the proper performance of the social housing sector in England.

Housing Studies Association
The forum for housing related research and debate. Promotes applied and theoretical housing research, supports housing education, holds regular conferences and seminars, and facilitates information dissemination.

Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust
A charity and registered social landlord which owns the freehold of nearly all the properties in New Earswick in York. The Trust acts as the landlord for the rented property and supports the community and educational activities in the village. It also carries out housing schemes in York and elsewhere in Yorkshire.

National Housing Federation
The body representing the independent social housing sector in England.

National Tenant Resource Centre
A charity offering training and support to all those living and working in low income communities around the UK to develop their skills, confidence and capacity to tackle problems and reverse poor conditions.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Northern Ireland's Comprehensive Regional Housing Authority.

Supporting People
A working partnership of local government, service users and support agencies aiming to deliver high quality and strategically planned housing-related services which are cost effective and reliable, and complement existing care services.

Tenant Participation Advisory Service
A non-profit making membership organisation that provides information, advice, training, consultancy, seminars and conferences on all aspects of involving tenants in their housing management in England. The membership community includes tenant's groups, Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords.

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Information and Conmmunications Technology (ICT)

Bridges.org
An international non-profit organisation with a mission to help people in developing countries use ICT to improve their lives. Researches, tests, and promotes best practices for sustainable, empowering technology use.

Can Do Exchange
"A new social e-bay". A kind of social market place to help give access to resources and opportunities needed to put ideas into action.

Communities Online
Aims to address issues of sustainability, regeneration, social inclusion and healthier economies by focusing on the use of ICT in communities and neighbourhoods. Also facilitates sharing of information through the email discussion group CoNet.

Computing for Community Organisations
A manual devised as a development tool to help community organisations move over from manual recording, for example, membership detail and their subscriptions, account books, correspondence and meeting minutes, to electronic means.

GovTalk
Government website to enable the public sector, industry and other interested participants across the UK to work together to develop and agree policies and standards for e-government. Includes consultation, discussions, and information on policies and standards for e-government.

Help is at Hand
Website funded by the Department for Education and Skills, aiming to create a broad and interesting range of online and offline resources to assist staff in UK online centres.

ICT Hub
A group of voluntary sector organisations who have come together to plan and deliver a co-ordinated framework of ICT guidance, good practice, advice and support for voluntary and community organisations in England, accessible at a local level.

IT for Charities
Lists IT products and services for UK charities and non-profit organisations.

National Grid for Learning Scotland - Communities Channel
Designed for community practitioners in Scotland looking to use ICT as a tool for building community capacity.

Partnerships Online
Information on using IT innovatively in voluntary organisations.

Society Guardian Big Issue: Internet and Information Technology
With the central push for e-government and charities increasingly seeing the internet as a campaigning tool, this resource examines the benefits and pitfalls of using the world wide web. Includes special reports containing background, analysis and comment, making them a useful research tool on the subject.

TechSoup
Includes a wide range of information and advice for non-profit organisations, success stories and online discussion boards. US site but very useful.

Women Connect
A community development initiative working to get women online. Aims to support and encourage the use of the internet in ways that are needed and wanted: to learn; to share ideas with other women's groups; to make voices heard in communities.

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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LBGT)

Beyond Barriers
A Scotland-wide project which aims to challenge discrimination and prejudice
against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, through the provision of information, training, research and capacity building.

International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)
A world-wide federation of national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people everywhere.

Stonewall
The UK political lobbying and campaigning group for legal equality and social justice for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.

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Neighbourhood Renewal/Regeneration

Active Partners
Helps regeneration projects, partnerships and schemes to build community participation into their work. The framework offers 12 benchmarks for communities and public policy makers to assess the extent to which community participation is taking place.

Adept Community Development Agency
An agency specialising in community development, capacity building, community consultancy, and community work training, working across England.

Ask: What if?
An online community for people interested in careers that have a positive impact on other people’s lives and the community they live in.

British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA)
An independent membership organisation formed in 1990 to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, experience and information for the emerging regeneration sector.

Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
An independent think/doing organisation with a network of subscribers involved in regeneration activities and local governance.

Department for Social Development - Urban Regeneration and Community Development Group
Responsible for the establishment of policy and strategy in Northern Ireland, and the implementation of programmes reflecting targeting social need, in addressing the social, economic and physical regeneration of cities, towns and villages in Northern Ireland and promoting partnership between Government and the voluntary and community sector.

Development Trusts Association
The membership network for development trusts in England, Wales & Northern Ireland, which exists to help members bring significant and lasting benefit to their communities.

English Partnerships
The national regeneration agency supporting high quality sustainable growth across England. The four key areas of English Partnerships’ activity are: sustainable regeneration, housing, strategic brownfield redevelopment and best practice.

Groundwork
An environmental regeneration charity consisting of a federation of Trusts across the UK, each working with their partners in poor areas to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the success of local businesses.

International Network for Urban Research and Action (INURA)

A network of people involved in action and research in localities and cities, including activists and researchers from community and environmental groups, universities, and local administrations, who wish to share experiences and to participate in common research.

Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation (NIF)
A community development and training charity working throughout the UK enabling residents of disadvantaged communities to play an active part in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods.

New Start Magazine Online
The web resource of the only weekly news magazine in the UK dedicated to community regeneration, with the aim to provide news, comment and analysis for all concerned with regeneration, both physical and social, and to stimulate debate and discussion of policy.

PEP
A not-for-profit company working with statutory and voluntary agencies and local communities, to improve services and make sure they meet the needs of local people. Provides advice, hands-on project work, training and research services to tackle social exclusion, support neighbourhood renewal, and build sustainable communities.

The Quest Trust
Aims to support local activists improving the quality of life in their communities, by enabling people to share information and ideas about successful economic and social regeneration effectively, in particular to promote and encourage resident-led, local solutions.

Regen.net
Developed by the DTLR, the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Executive to disseminate and share information in urban and rural regeneration across the UK.

Renewal.net
An on-line guide to what works in neighbourhood renewal, for anyone already involved in neighbourhood renewal or wanting to get involved. It includes how to guides, case studies and project summaries.

Room @ RTPI
Forum bringing together all those involved in housing planning and regeneration on an equal footing, to share information, debate the issues, influence policy and contribute to best practice.

Urban Forum
An umbrella body for community and voluntary groups within the UK with interests in urban and regional policy, especially regeneration.

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Poverty and Social Inclusion

ATD Fourth World
An international non-Governmental organisation (NGO) that takes a human rights approach to poverty - working in partnership with people in the UK and around the world.

Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion
An independent, not-for-profit organisation working with Government, the voluntary sector, business and trade unions in the UK. Aims to promote social justice and tackles disadvantage by helping individuals, families and communities achieve economic independence and access more and better opportunities.

Child Poverty Action Group
Promotes action for the relief, directly or indirectly, of poverty among children and families with children. Seeks to improve benefits and policies for low-income families, in order to eradicate the injustice of poverty.

Chronic Poverty Research Centre
An international partnership of universities, research institutes and NGOs established in 2000 with initial funding from the UK's Department for International Development. CPRC expects its research and analysis to result in policy relevant findings which will be useful to all those working to combat poverty.

Food Poverty Projects

Online database from the Health Development Agency (HDA) and Sustain holding detailed records on over 270 community projects tackling the issues of food and low income across the UK. Projects include food co-ops, community cafés, cooking clubs and community allotments.

Groundswell
A UK charity that supports a network of people and projects committed to inclusive approaches to tackling homelessness, poverty and exclusion.

Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion
UK site for statistics on poverty and social exclusion, produced by New Policy Institute with support from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Material is organised around 50 statistical indicators covering all aspects of the subject, from income and work to health and education.

Oxfam GB
The UK arm of the development, relief, and campaigning organisation dedicated to finding lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the world. They believe that every human being is entitled to a life of dignity and opportunity; and work with poor communities, local partners, volunteers, and supporters to help this become a reality.

PEP
A not-for-profit company working with statutory and voluntary agencies and local communities, to improve services and make sure they meet the needs of local people. Provides advice, hands-on project work, training and research services to tackle social exclusion, support neighbourhood renewal, and build sustainable communities.

The Quest Trust
Aims to support local activists improving the quality of life in their communities, by enabling people to share information and ideas about successful economic and social regeneration effectively, in particular to promote and encourage resident-led, local solutions.

RE:generate
A grant-making trust for the relief of poverty throughout the UK. Aims to encourage wider participation in public life to enable those who are most disadvantaged to improve the quality of their lives and build partnerships with those in positions of power to benefit the whole community.

Society Guardian Big Issue: Social Exclusion
Includes special reports on social exclusion, containing background, analysis and comment, making them a useful research tool on the subject.

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Refugees and Social Inclusion

Asylum Aid

A charity which provides free legal advice and representation to refugees and asylum-seekers seeking safety in the UK from persecution. Also campaigns for the fair treatment of refugees in the UK.

Barbed Wire Britain
Network aiming to end migrant and refugee detention. Includes a collection of accounts from people who have been subject to immigration detention.

Electronic Immigration Network (EIN)
A voluntary sector organisation specialising in the provision of information on immigration and refugee law via the Internet, particularly in the UK and Europe.

Eurasylum
Provides research, evaluation and consulting services dedicated solely to issues of immigration control and asylum policy in Europe and internationally.

European Council on Refugees and Exiles
An umbrella organisation of 73 refugee-assisting agencies in 30 European countries working towards fair and humane policies for the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

Evelyn Oldfield Unit
Established by a consortium of funding bodies and agencies which work with refugee community organisations, the Unit develops specialist support for refugee organisations to enable them to adequately tackle the pressing needs of the communities they serve.

Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees in the UK (ICAR)
An independent information centre that exists to promote understanding of asylum and refugees in the UK and to encourage information-based debate and policy-making. Includes case studies, information and contacts for each region and a research projects database.

National Information Forum (nif)
A voluntary organisation committed to encouraging the provision of accessible information, by every means possible, for disabled people, asylum seekers, refugees and anyone else disadvantaged in gaining access to information.

Praxis
A membership organisation advancing the human rights and social justice of people displaced by war, conflict, impoverishment and environmental degradation.

Refugee Action
An independent charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers to build new lives in the UK. Campaigns to ensure that refugees' voices are heard in matters that affect them, and that people's needs are met.

The Refugee Council
The largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. Website includes information for asylum seekers and refugees in 12 different languages.

Society Guardian Big Issue: Asylum Seekers
Includes special reports on refugees and asylum seekers, containing background, analysis and comment, making them a useful research tool on the subject.

The Scottish Refugee Council
Provides advice, information and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland, promotes a strategic response to refugee needs, and campaigns to ensure Scotland plays its role meeting the UK's legal and humanitarian obligations.

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Rural

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)
A national charity whose purpose is to support sustainable rural community development. It provides a national platform for its founder member Rural Community Councils, other bodies and individuals who work at local, county, regional and national level to alleviate rural disadvantage in England.

Countryside Council for Wales
The Government's statutory adviser on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment in Wales and its inshore waters.

Countryside Matters
Online resource for those interested in countryside issues. Includes a Farming Matters section incorporating information about food safety, animal welfare, ecology, organic food, and overseas development.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

The government department which aims to achieve sustainable development.

Institute of Rural Health (IRH)
Works with individuals and communities, academic bodies and organisations involved in service delivery to promote health and well being across rural Britain and to ensure that rural communities receive the highest quality health care possible.

Natural England
The statutory body working to conserve and enhance the English countryside; to promote social equity and economic opportunity for the people who live there; and to help everyone, wherever they live, to enjoy the countryside.

Rural Community Gateway
Information and services for rural communities in Scotland.

Rural Community Network (RCN)
A voluntary organisation established by local community organisations to articulate the voice of rural communities in Northern Ireland on issues relating to poverty, disadvantage and equality.

Rural Youth Network
The Rural Youth Network aims to raise awareness of issues faced by young people in rural areas and support those who work with them.

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Social/Community Enterprise

Community Action Network (CAN)
A mutual learning and support network for social entrepreneurs. Its aims include strengthening communities and attacking deprivation in the UK; increasing the number and profile of social entrepreneurs; helping improve the quality of their work; and helping them develop partnerships in the public, private and Third sectors.

Co-operatives UK
A member-based organisation for co-operative enterprises, representing the interests of member co-operatives and working to develop and extend the co-operative sector as a whole.

Nearbuyou
A national trading network for social enterprises and those that wish to trade with them. It provides a set of tools for truly effective social trading.

The Scarman Trust
A national charity committed to helping citizens bring about change in their community, by funding and giving practical assistance to people with a 'can do' attitude - people who act as a catalyst and mobilise these assets for positive and concrete change in their communities.

seo-online
A searchable web-based directory and portal site managed by Community Action Network (CAN) to raise the profile of social entrepreneurial organisations across England. Includes definitions of what and who is meant by the term social entrepreneur, and information on relevant training, conferences, services and products.

Social Enterprise Coalition (SEC)
The UK trade body that brings together all types of social enterprise to promote the sector and share knowledge.

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Training and Learning

Adept Community Development Agency
An agency specialising in community development, capacity building, community consultancy, and community work training, working across England.

Action Learning Matters (ALM)
ALM is an on-line national resource for the voluntary and community sector. It gives information and advice on designing, delivering and doing action learning, as well as details of action learning projects happening at a regional level.

Black Practitioners and Learners' Network (BPLN)
Network from NIACE for black learners and practitioners, those who work with black adults and anyone interested in challenging racism and promoting cultural diversity in adult education.

ContinYOU
The national centre for community-based learning, which aims to develop opportunities for health improvement, education and community regeneration in England for those who have previously benefitted least from such opportunities.

ENTO
Formerly 'The Employment NTO', its purpose is the enhancement and improvement of the performance of people involved in the main occupational areas of Training & Development, Trade Unions, Health & Safety and Personnel.

Federation for Community Development Learning (FCDL)
The UK membership network for individuals, organisations and groups with an interest in community development learning and training.

Labyrinth Consultancy
Provides support and/or leadership to partnerships and organisations in bringing about community development and organisation development.

Learning and Skills Council
Responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.

National Organisation for Adult Learning / National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE)
A membership organisation for England and Wales with individual members and more than 260 corporate members across the full range of providers, policy makers and users of adult learning opportunities.

PAULO
The UK National Training Organisation (NTO) for community-based learning and development, covering the occupational sector that includes Community-based Adult Learning, Community Education, Community Work, Youth Work and Parenting Education & Support.

Reflect
An approach to adult learning and social change, which fuses the theories of Paulo Freire with the methodology of participatory rural appraisal. It is used by over 350 diverse organisations in more than 60 countries.

Support4Learning
Resources for advisers, students and everyone involved in education, training, career planning and communities generally.

TWICS (Training for Work in Communities)
Voluntary organisation providing training to qualification level in community work and capacity building training for community and voluntary groups and organisations in the South East.

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Voluntary and Community Sector

Can Do Exchange
A unique social marketplace from The Scarman Trust to help individuals and organisations gain access to resources and opportunities to help put ideas into action. Buy, sell, barter, hire, gift or use 'Community Currencies' to exchange all kinds of resources, from services, transport and information sheets to office equipment, meeting rooms and peoples skills.

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
An international non-governmental organisation providing specialist financial services to charities and their supporters.

Community Evaluation Northern Ireland (ceni)
Provides a range of services in monitoring and evaluation to the voluntary, community and statutory sectors. Services include information and advice, evaluation consultancy, training and support and research and development work.

Compact Working Group
Website of the Compact Secretariat, whose remit is to brief the English Voluntary and Community Sector on the Compact - the agreement between the Government and the whole Voluntary and Community Sector made in 1998.

Directory of Social Change
An independent voice for social change, to help voluntary and community organisations become more effective. Works by providing practical, challenging and affordable information and training.

Guidestar
Independent charity aiming to promote the UK's voluntary and community sector by creating a comprehensive and readily available source of information about its activities. Includes a search facility enabling users to track down charities by type of work, targeted beneficiaries, location or size.

The Media Trust
Helps voluntary and not-for-profit organisations with their communications by encouraging media professionals to volunteer their time and skills. Works across the UK on PR and press, marketing, design, online media and video.

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
The umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer bureaux, and development agencies working at local level. Mainly works as a lobbying and information service for the sector.

Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)
The representative body for voluntary, community and charitable groups in Northern Ireland.

Professionals4free
Website designed for voluntary and community groups looking for free help from professionals and for professionals who want to volunteer their services. Includes case studies of how community groups have benefitted from free professional help.

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
The representative body for voluntary, community and charitable groups in Scotland.

SmartResources
Brings together reputable information providers and trustworthy and sympathetic suppliers to help charities, voluntary organisations, social entrepreneurs and faith-based communities.

Society Guardian Public & Voluntary Sector Glossary
Provides plain English definitions to hundreds of terms, phrases and acronyms in the public and voluntary sectors, with links to related articles and websites with more information. Also includes advice on how to write clear and concise public documents that will be easily understood by everyone.

VolResource
Aims to make it quick and easy to get to useful information on anything to do with running a voluntary organisation (whether a community group, charity or other non-profit body).

Wales Council for Voluntary Action
The representative body for voluntary, community and charitable groups in Wales.

workwithus.org
Web portal for Scotland's voluntary and community sectors. Includes sector news, funding information, a searchable database of organisations, and lobbying advice.

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Miscellaneous

Anti-Apathy
An international cultural campaign designed to connect disengaged citizens with social, political, and environmental issues to help create a more just, democratic and sustainable world through awareness and action.

Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL)
The main trade Association for credit unions in England, Scotland and Wales.

Association of Voluntary Service Organisations (AVSO)
The European platform of national and international non-profit organisations active in the field of longer term Voluntary Service.

Citizenship Foundation
An independent charity which aims to empower individuals to engage in the wider community through education about the law, democracy and society.

Community Group
Formed to offer a reference point on creating and uniting communities.

Community Links
A network of projects run by local people, tackling practically and creatively the problems of the inner city community in East London. They share good practice ideas nationally through publications and training programmes.

Community Matters
Plays a key role in promoting and supporting action by ordinary people in England, Wales and Scotland in response to leisure, recreational, educational and social needs in their neighbourhood and communities.

Dialogue to Action
A US website featuring resources to keep leaders in dialogue and civic engagement informed and involved. Includes a community section listing news, and resources such as a 'Democracy Collaborative' and a Community Calendar.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
The UK’s leading research funding and training agency addressing economic and social concerns. Aims to provide high quality research on issues of importance to business, the public sector and government, including economic competitiveness, the effectiveness of public services and policy, and our quality of life.

Federation of Stadium Communities
Offers information, advice and support to community groups throughout England and Wales living in the vicinity of sports stadia, as well as to the sports clubs themselves and to local authorities. The website compliments and enhances the services on offer, and allows users to trade ideas with other individuals and organisations and comment on FSC's work.

Irish League of Credit Unions
The main trade Association for credit unions in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Making Research Count
A collaborative venture between seven English universities offers staff in Local Authorities, the NHS and voluntary organisations the opportunity to work in partnership with their academic colleagues to develop evidence-based social work and social care practice, and to improve the dissemination of research.

Multikulti
Multilingual advice project from Lasa which aims to support citizenship through the delivery of culturally appropriate and accurately translated information in the following areas of welfare law - debt, employment, health, housing, immigration and welfare benefits.

National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA)
A membership organisation for councils for voluntary service across England. NACVS help to promote effective local voluntary and community action through their member CVS, by providing them with a range of support services.

National Statistics
The official UK statistics site where you can view and download a wealth of economic and social data for free. Includes detailed information from the 2001 Census.

Policy Press
A specialist social science publisher that publishes books, reports and journals that have an impact on research, learning, policy and practice at an international level.

Radical Statistics Group (Radstats)
A group of researchers and statisticians who believe that statistics should be accessible to communities and used to support campaigns for progressive social change.

Social Science Information Gateway (SOSIG)
Aims to provide a trusted source of selected, high quality Internet information for students, academics, researchers and practitioners in the social sciences, business and law.

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU)
The world's leading advocate, platform for knowledge exchange and development agency for credit unions.

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