Community Appraisal
Brief Description:
Community Appraisals are surveys of local need and opinion about issues such as: local housing, schooling, training, employment, culture, health, social welfare and community facilities.
Description:
Community Appraisal is a method that includes gauging the viewpoints of all members of a community on particular issues. Community Appraisals may be conducted to form a plan of action to resolve an issue or improve existing services.
Used For:
Gauging community opinion and possible solutions to local problems.
Suitable participants:
Councils in particular use Community Appraisals to involve local citizens, who in turn are suitable participants.
Cost:
Medium/High.
These can be high to cover training for staff and organising events.
Time Requirements:
Time requirements can be lengthy, depending on the extent of the appraisal. A thorough participatory appraisal will go through various stages including:
- Training of participants and staff.
- Data collection through surveys, then again to gauge possible solutions to established issues.
- Planning of stakeholder events where residents meet to discuss possible action plans.
When To Use / What It Can Deliver:
- Can go on to create an Action Plan for the future.
- Can bring new volunteers to the group.
When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:
- For smaller engagement projects.
Strengths:
- You can discover what the needs of the whole community are.
- Residents can gain in confidence and skills.
Weaknesses:
- Too many conflicting interests.
Origin:
Case Studies:
Related Methods
Restrictions In Use
None
Further Information
For an example of a Community Appraisal, please see:
http://www.holdenhurst.co.uk/iow/parish.htm#top
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Public participation methods
