Go to recipes A-Z
Unfortunately, there is no standard out of the box community planning blueprint. As each area is uniquely shaped by its people, culture and surroundings, the approach will be different for every community or neighbourhood.
VP groups can pick and choose recipes that would work best for their communities.
This cookbook which is constantly being updated, lists various recipes from A-Z on how to undertake community planning
How do you get started with community planning?
Back to recipes A-Z
Key elements of community-led planning
1. Strong leadership
Planning should be led by a group from the community that has credibility with the different sections of the community. The group must balance the interest of all stakeholders.
2. Community engagement
The community or locality should be involved in every step of the planning process. Isolated groups should be given a voice.
3. Strong evidence base
An effective plan is based on the views of the people which are grounded in evidence of real issues and aspirations.
4. Vision
A clear vision for the future will inform the way ahead. It should be grounded and must relate to opportunities and the the local context.
5. Action plans
the vision should be translated into a an action plan with clear objectives and priorities.
Community survey
A community survey or community participatory appraisal is an effective tool for community participation and fact-finding. Surveys bring decision-oriented statistics into the policy and planning process. It provides an excellent way of getting specific and up to date information form a cross-section of residents. A community survey to be used in planning can:
Gather information on attitudes, opinions and perceptions
measure population characteristics
solicit community reactions to projects, solutions and proposals
get a clear understanding of the communities prioritiesmake residents aware of community problems
provide an opportunity for communities to influence public policy
Process:
1. Background and purpose of the survey why is a survey being conducted and who are conducting it
2. Establish survey team
3. Design the survey questionnaire. The survey should inform about the residents perception on the area as
a place to live, what they like, what they dislike and what imporvements tjhey think would enhance their
community as a place to live. See the Campbells Bay VP group survey template.
4. Deploy the survey through letter boxing, door-to-door or use an electronic online survey tool (ie
surveymonkey)
5. Collect data
6. Collate and analyse data
7. Draft survey finding and summary
8. Circulate results
9. Feedback
Sample Survey findings outline
1. Purpose of survey
2. Scope of survey
a. About the participatory process
b. Survey respondentsc.limitations
3. Acknowledgements
4. Maps and figures
5. Survey results
a. Summary
b. Demographics Gender, Age, Ethnicity, cross sections
c. Socio-economic profile infrastructure, amenities and facilities, environment, health and safety,
education, community, etc
d. Satisfaction ratings ie as a place to live, what they liked/disliked about the place
e. Issues identified described by categories, topic, theme or socio-economic profile
f. Suggestions identified - described categories, by topic, theme or socio-economic profile
g. Main themes emerging
Communicating the survey results
1. Print surveys and disseminate
2. Establish prioritisation process
3. Feedback results through community event
4. Prioritise projects and initiatives