Introduction

We have written this book to help those working in neighbourhoods. It is intended both for people who do neighbourhood work as a paid job, as well as for those who use its principles and methods as part of another profession, such as economic development or health. We hope it will be of use to anyone wishing to develop groups and networks in a neighbourhood and will help local people tackle needs and issues that affect their livelihood and quality of life. The potential readers can be specified as follows:

• community workers, especially those working on a neighbourhood basis; • regeneration officers, social inclusion and partnership staff employed on

economic and social programmes; • other practitioners who make use of community work methods as a

significant part of their jobs, for example, youth workers, housing officers, community arts workers, rural development staff, Local Agenda 21 practitioners, health visitors and health promotion staff;

• managers, especially those with responsibility for community-based regeneration, social inclusion programmes, community planning and Local Strategic Partnerships;

• community leaders who, in addition to being key members of a community group or network, actively support neighbourhood work;

• students on qualifying courses which include input on neighbourhood work, for example youth and community work courses, applied social studies, planning and economic development courses.