Benefits (and Dangers) of Linking

Well thought-through, well-supported community linking projects can support development at both (Wales and Africa) ends of a partnership…

  • development of social harmony and cohesion, as people work together (both within and across communities) to tackle common problems, social issues and divides, include the excluded, and harness collective ‘social capital’;
  • improved health and well-being of their people, through skills and ideas exchanges, professional development, sharing / raising of resources, and joint advocacy for basic rights and services;
  • improved opportunities for children and young people, through enabling access to education, ‘making real’ world issues through applying learning about sustainable development and global citizenship, exposure to different countries and cultures, and giving young people a voice in their communities.
  • opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods through social enterprise, fair trade, micro-business, agricultural or manual skills and technology exchange and development.
  • better environment through education and learning projects, peak oil transition and community carbon offset initiatives, skills and technology exchange, natural resource management, clean energy, recycling and conservation projects.

These (the five 'Gold Star Award' areas) are ‘hard outcomes’ that can be seen as foci for projects and community co-operation. As important are the ‘soft outcomes’ that sometimes cannot be so easily seen and measured; linking can stimulate:

  • Outward looking communities,
  • with raised positive profile and confidence;
  • Populations engaged with societal and global issues;
  • Interconnecting different people, professions and interest groups;
  • Practical outlets for philanthropy, good will and putting faith into action;
  • Challenging discrimination and stereotypes;
  • Healthy engagement and joint working between government and civil society

BUT - The Dangers of ‘Linking without Thinking’…

Linking is often thought of as a ‘nice thing to do’. Images of travel, ‘junkets’, experiencing faraway places, making exotic friends, and helping solve major problems through superior knowledge abound - and are very dangerous. Effective linking is hard work and requires hard thinking. Done poorly and without proper thought and support, community linking can undermine development, reinforce stereotypes, entrench divides or attitudes, duplicate (or terminate) initiatives or resources, and create social conflict. This is why Wales' Gold Star Communities Project has a focus on process and QUALITY - as outlined in the Gold Star Award framework.

Further Resources on 'Benefits of Linking'