Assets Based Approaches - news and useful resources

This page hosts a range of news and useful publications and resources to support assets-based approaches. If you would like to suggest any further resources for inclusion, please contact olivia@scdc.org.uk

• SCDC Policy Briefing - Making the most of our communities

‘Making the most of our communities: Using an asset model to tackle poverty and improve health' provides a summary of the Scottish Government discussion paper on tackling child poverty and the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer, referring particularly to the asset model of change evident in both reports.

For further policy briefings from SCDC, visit our Policy and Practice page.

• Assets in Action - a case study

'Assets in Action', is a case study of the asset-based approach in practice.the work of the Children's Inclusion Partnership (CHIP) in North Glasgow as an example of how an assets approach can be used in practice. CHIP is a partnership between Barnardo's and Stepping Stones for Families.

For this and further case studies, visit our Policy and Practice page.

• Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer - 2009

'Health in Scotland 2009: Time for Change' is the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Dr Harry Burns. The report states that 'An assets approach to health and development embraces a positive notion of health creation and in doing so encourages the full participation of local communities in the health development process'. It outlines what a salutogenic approach to health would look like, and through a number of case studies, demonstrates how focusing on assets rather than perceived defecits can be successful in improving health and wellbeing.

• Assets Alliance Scotland 

In December 2010, the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) and Long-Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) worked in partnership with the Scottish Government to host an event designed to take forward an Assets Alliance in Scotland.

Assets Alliance Scotland has not yet become a tangible entity but, in the meantime, SCDC is keen to maintain and promote dialogue on assets based approaches and to capture and share practice. We are happy to publish articles and resources on assets based approaches - if you would like to contribute please contact Olivia Hanley on olivia@scdc.org.uk

• Assets Alliance event 13th December 2010

Initiated and supported by the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Dr Harry Burns, the event brought together people already using asset based approaches with key influencers from across the public and community and voluntary sectors.  The event recognised that assets approaches are not new and that many initiatives in Scotland already demonstrate this way of working.

Working at a local level is at the heart of the assets approach, but support may also be needed at a national level to ensure that the approach is embedded as part of mainstream practice.  The purpose of the event held on 13 December was to find out from key stakeholders what form an Assets Alliance should take and what its key functions should be, and this next stage is still in development with stakeholders at a national level.

In the meantime, SCDC will continue to host information relating to asset based approaches here. To keep abreast of developments, revisit this page or, if you would like to get in touch, please contact olivia@scdc.org.uk.

-  Assets Alliance Scotland event report

    Read the report of the Assets Alliance Scotlland event which took place on 13 December.

-  In addition, you can now watch the presentation given at the event by Chief Medical Officer Dr Harry Burns or download the slides

•   A Glass Half Full: How and asset approach can improve health and wellbeing

This guide from the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) Healthy Communities Team is aimed at councils and their partners, local authority elected members, community health practitioners, public health professionals and non-executive directors of NHS Trusts. It sets out the case for an assets approach, as well as exploring a range of techniques which can be used for discovering and mobilising community assets. The guide will be of particular interest to those working with communities to challenge health inequalities.

Download A Glass Half Full: How an asset approach can improve health and wellbeing.

• What makes us healthy?

The follow up resource to 'A glass half full', is now available.  ‘What makes us healthy? The asset approach in practice: evidence, action, evaluation', written by Jane Foot, has information on the evidence for the beneficial effects of assets such as social relationships and networks on health and wellbeing; ideas about how to put asset principles into practice; and help with assessing whether these new ways of working are having an impact.

Download What makes us healthy?

• Govanhill Asset Mapping

'Govanhill  - What the people say? A Map of Assets' is the report of a project that aims to identify the resources which exist within the social and physical fabric of Govanhill.  Community researchers have gathered information through interviews, questionaires and focus groups with over 400 people who live and/or work in the locality. This research will inform the local programme developed by the Centre for Community Practice, Govanhill Baths Community Trust's innovative social enterprise which aims to promote regeneration through community based education and research. For further information or for a hard copy of the report, contact Heather Lynch heather@centreforcommunitypractice.org

• Self Management Fund Special Report from the Long Term Conditions Alliance

Self Management Fund - Special Report: Communities and Community Assets

This report has been developed by the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland in conjunction with SCDC. The Self Management Fund supports projects and organisations across Scotland which encourage people living with long term conditions, and their unpaid carers, to work in partnership with health and social care professionals. This Special Report looks at how the Self Management Fund has encouraged positive approaches to self management across Scotland involving local communities and groups, building on the strengths they can bring and share with each other.

•  Appreciating Assets resource

'Appreciating Assets', has been produced by IACD and the Carnegie UK Trust. It's aimed at helping community development practitioners, activists and policymakers get to grips with what asset-based community development involves at a practical level - taking the view that the primary asset of a place is often its people and their untapped potential. While it's aimed primarily at UK and Irish contexts, it draws on experiences from across the globe.

Read Appreciating Assets here

• ** NEWS ** Call for case studies of asset approaches in action

As part of the Community Capacity Building and Coproduction work stream of the Reshaping Care for Older People Programme, the Joint Improvement Team (JIT) in the Health and Social Care Integration Directorate of the Scottish Government wishes to highlight case studies where an ‘assets approach' to health and wellbeing,  particularly that of older people, has been or is being taken. If you have a case study that you believe shows such an asset approach in action and you'd like to bring it to JIT's attention, please send a short write up and your contact details to andrew.jackson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or call 0131 244 5424.

These case studies will be used in JIT's ongoing work with health and social care planners and practitioners and, ultimately, will be published on the JIT website as part of a suite of materials to support the use of community capacity building, coproduction and assets approaches in the care of older people.