The
Chinese Community Centre, 44 Gerrard Street, W1. As with other
community centres the programme of work based here is wide - including youth
groups, a women’s and elders’ group, and various cultural activities. As well as
providing services such as these, the community associations that run centres
such as this have worked to support and develop community groups. In this sense
they are umbrella organizations. They have also provided a forum for the
discussion of local issues and made representations into local political
processes (see Twelvetrees 1976).
The roots of community associations such as this are varied - but the immediate lineage can be traced back through the work of educational settlements such as West Central (below) and residential settlements such as Toynbee Hall, Oxford House and Mansfield House (see, also, Mary Ward House, below). An emphasis on democracy and participation came strongly through the educational settlements (see also Friends House and the Working Men’s College below). An interest in social work and social welfare came from the residential settlements. Both settlement movements had a concern with education and the needs of local people. Both made use of clubs and groups as well as more formal educational activities. To these roots must be added the development of village halls. (See Clarke et al 1990).
The purpose of community associations1. To bring individuals together. Any adult living in the neighbourhood is able to become an individual member. 2. To bring together the other organizations in the locality. 3. To provide opportunities for leisure-time activities in response to local needs. 4. To provide a basis for an education in democratic practice. All members and groups participate in the process of managing the association's affairs. 5. To see that gaps in community service are filled. 6. To manage the community centre. Management by the association, a member-participant organization, gives scope for training in citizenship and democratic usage through the undertaking of responsibility by both the individual and the group. 7. To provide a corporate voice for the the local community. From National Federation of Community Associations (1974) Creative Living. The work and purposes of a community association, London: National Council of Social Service |
There is some debate about what counts as the first community association. The Pettits Farm Association, Dagenham by 1929 had three characteristics linked to community associations: social provision, the development of groups with an educational purpose, and efforts to co-ordinate neighbourhood services (Clarke 1990: 29). However, other possibilities include the Watling Estate Association, Middlesex and the Wilbraham Estate, Manchester. By the late 1938 there were known to be community centres in over 320 towns or new estates (Broady 1979: 5). (See National Council of Social Service, below).
Broady, M. et al (1979) Tomorrow's Community. The development of neighbourhood organisations, London: Bedford Square Press.
Clarke, R. et al. (1990) Enterprising Neighbours. The development of the community association movement in Britain, London: National Federation of Community Organizations.
Twelvetrees, A. C. (1976) Community Associations and Centres. A comparative study, Oxford: Pergamon.
Note: This page is part of our virtual walk around the history of informal education (in central London).
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© Mark K. Smith. First published August 7, 1997. Last update: April 25, 2008
