Recruiter details: Community Development Foundation

CDF is the leading source of community development expertise and delivery. As both a public body and a charity, CDF bridges government, communities and the voluntary sector. We develop policy and practice, undertake research and will distribute in the region of £150 million through programme delivery over the next three years . We help local people lead.

The Community Development Foundation is growing and we have recently restructured to make us more responsive, efficient and focused on our mission. This is an exciting time to be joining the organisation.

Our Vision

CDF has a vision of an inclusive and just society.

Our Mission

To lead community development analysis and strategy in order to empower people to influence decisions that affect their lives.

Our Goals

Through our work our aim is to help create:

• Engaged communities, supporting involvement in local decision making
• Cohesive Communities, helping people come together to manage diversity
• Stronger communities, building community control and contribution

Our Aims and Objectives

CDF’s key aim is to build engaged, cohesive and stronger communities by:

• Advising government and other bodies on community engagement, empowerment and cohesion, measures to build sustainable, active communities and promoting community development.
• Supporting community work of all kinds through networks, links with practitioners, collaborative work with partner organisations, funding and management of local projects.
• Carrying out research, evaluation and policy analysis to identify good practice in all aspects of community development and involvement, and disseminating lessons through training, conferences, publications and consultancy.

Occupying a unique strategic vantage point, with a view of both policy and practice, CDF is well placed to act as a conduit for intelligence to Communities and Local Government (CLG). We undertake a regular active/reflective role, so that we can provide the government with a two-way knowledge transfer function, translating different perspectives of life in our communities. We know that a mutually dependent relationship exists between government and communities and we will continue to:

• Develop public sector relationships, such as with the Local Government Association, Improvement and Development Agency and Audit Commission, in order to stimulate and support new approaches to empowerment activity within the sector.
• Work in partnership with national third sector and community development organisations as the connectors with communities and practitioners to identify examples of effective practice and where targeted support is required.

Bridge government departments and social policy areas to champion community development and empowerment approaches, reinforce Communities and Local Government messages and help identify opportunities for complementary and collaborative activity.