“There is evidence that suggests a strong correlation between low social capital and high levels of crime and disorder. High social capital can ensure the reinforcement of positive standards through the provision of role models, whereas in areas of low social capital young people will often create their own in the form of gangs”. Robert[…]
I am writing this blog for three reasons: The practice of PCSOs is changing and I don’t agree we are going in the right direction @GMHales recently tweeted about the role of PCSOs being about engagement and asked me to blog some initial thoughts I am regularly frustrated by the missed potential of the[…]
In October 2018 MutualGain had the opportunity to meet a range of health and social practitioners from across the country when exhibiting at the King’s Fund conference, Community is the best medicine: making a reality of community-based health. Although there were examples of some fantastic practice it was hard not to be left with the[…]
I’ve been talking all things policing over the last couple of weeks with a broad variety of interested parties – whether it’s at the launch of the new Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, the findings from the Home Affairs Committee, or the Police Foundation Conference exploring innovation in policing. The dialogue I have[…]
Over the past few months I have shared a number of platforms with the College of Policing and the Police Foundation on the subject of Neighbourhood Policing. We agree on so much about the principles that underpin good neighbourhood policing, yet I would argue that ‘good’ cannot be achieved through function and structure alone. Effective,[…]
Fourteen years I’ve been a police officer. Ask me why, and I’ll give you a rather mechanised response, “To help people”. And so will, no doubt, the majority if not all other police officers to who you pose this question. I didn’t join the police service to help people per se but it’s often a[…]
It was 2016. The bare school sports hall was harshly lit with neon tube lighting, flickering occasionally on the few people present who were sat, perched on uncomfortably low chairs; those chairs seemed huge when I was a kid. Conversation was stilted. Despite my repeated outline of reduced staff against a backdrop of austerity budgets[…]
So, there’s still plenty of time to comment on the government’s Green Paper on Housing, with the consultation deadline pointing at 6th November. The five principles that hold it up provide ample food for thought: Ensuring homes are safe and decent; Swift resolution of disputes and complaints; Empowering residents and making sure[…]
The following blog was written by Ernie Hendricks, one of the learners on MutualiLearn. The blog was submitted as part of his endeavours to achieve a level 4 qualification in Building Social Capital Through Community Engagement. People have been asking about the community engagement work I’ve been doing. I figured I’d pen a quick note to[…]
I am writing this during the lunchtime session of day one at the SALAR conference on Participatory Budgeting. I am in Stockholm, Sweden (a very expensive place to eat and drink – £8 for a beer!). This blog is a way of me adopting the role of social reporter – not a[…]
