CDX works to ensure that community development is recognised and supported as a powerful way of tackling inequality and achieving social justice.

As an organisation with members from across the UK, CDX reflects a diverse range of interests in community development across all sectors and fields.

CDX has produced a working statement on community development to act as a general starting point for individuals, groups and organisations. It is a tool that will be continually renewed and updated in the light of experience.

Community development is about building active and sustainable communities based on social justice and mutual respect.
It is about changing power structures to remove the barriers that prevent people from participating in the issues that affect their lives.

Editor: The CDX website is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in Community Development - CDX website 

From recycling to offsetting emissions, and from turning the thermostat down to buying a more economical car, there are many steps you can take to help safeguard the future of the planet.

Climate change: a quick guide 

Well worth a look as it covers many terms used in funding application forms.

CSR describes a company’s commitment to be accountable to its stakeholders.

CSR demands that businesses manage the economic, social and environmental impacts of their operations to maximise the benefits and minimise the downsides.

Key CSR issues include governance, environmental management, stakeholder engagement, labour standards, employee and community relations, social equity, responsible sourcing and human rights.

Click here: csr network - making csr a reality

The city has a strong reputation for promoting positive community relations through people of different cultures and faiths coming together with key agencies to address problems.

There is underlying strength and resilience in the city’s capacity to manage relations between its different communities.

Click here: Community Cohesion in Leicester

It brings together a wide range of people who are already delivering services, working for organisations such as the Police, Health, the Council or for the voluntary and community sector in order that they can work in a more cohensive and co-ordinated manner.

Neighbourhood Management doesn’t involve large sums of money – it’s about using resources that are already available more effectively to achieve lasting change. One solution won’t suit all neighbourhood so services need to be flexible to meet the needs of residents.

Click here: Leicester Partnership

“News Releases: We are ‘constantly in the news’ sometimes for things that we are proud of and sometimes because things have gone wrong. Regardless of the circumstances we are committed to open, honest and effective communication. To that end the ‘News’ section of our website contains all the press releases we send out to local, regional and national media.”

No jargon or buzz words in there…..just a bit of ‘plain english’ honesty.

A rather clever chap I know once said to me - “people only swear in a conversation John, when they can’t find the words they really want to use to make their point”

Interesting thought……perhaps that’s why people use jargon and buzzwords……it demonstrates their ‘connectivity while in a coterminous stakeholder engagement to build a consensus!’……whatever!……am I bovered?

An article by Bill Jamieson in ‘The Scotsman’ has highlighted the way in which ‘Newspeak’ has invaded Scottish life.

The author received a ‘deluge’ of responses, all featuring specific examples. Political ‘buzzwords’ and phrases like ‘policy-based evidence’, ‘consensus’, ‘partnership working’ and ‘connectivity’ came in for particular criticism.

Plain English Campaign has made comments in the media several times about this issue recently and has decided enough is enough. Campaign spokesperson Steve Jenner said today:

“It is frequently suggested to us in interviews that it is acceptable for people to use buzzwords and phrases in the workplace. We don’t think it is.

Click here for the full article

Events will be taking place in Leicester & Leicestershire and Citizens Eye will have all the details over the coming months.

During Refugee Week hundreds of events exploring refugee experiences take place across the UK. These range from small community and school activities to art exhibitions, political debates, film screenings, conferences, big music festivals, sports events etc…

Anyone can get involved in Refugee Week either by organising or visiting an event or by just spreading the word!

For further information on Refugee Week 2008

The 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees

The 1951 UN Convention on refugees is the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of states. It also defines a refugee’s obligations to host governments.

Who is a refugee?Article 1 of the Convention defines a refugee as “A person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution.”