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What is The Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation?
We are a national charity based in Telford, Shropshire, specialising in community participation, training and development. Working with local authorities, housing associations, voluntary agencies and community groups, we offer an independent, quality service to improve the well-being of communities.
Giving Local People a Voice - a Modern and practical approach to community engagement
For almost two decades The Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation has worked with residents throughout the UK, helping them to play an active part in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods and the development of their communities. Through the use of interactive, hands on tools and techniques, such as "Planning for Real®",and by supporting them individually and collectively as they learned new skills and developed their own assets and strengths, NIF has shown that people can make a real difference.
Community engagement is not just about consultation and the provision of information, important as these are, it should also be a means by which local people can be fully involved in the process of change, interacting equally with other stakeholders and wielding real power. Anything less is unlikely to result in the development of sustainable communities or the implementation of effective neighbourhood renewal.
This is a critical and exciting time for NIF, others in the voluntary sector and all those involved in urban and rural regeneration. It is important that we in the field become even more creative, collaborative and positive; whilst those with the greatest influence over policy, strategy and the distribution of financial support build on their efforts to be forward thinking, supportive and not averse to risk.
Through the implementation of this new strategic plan the Foundation will seek to demonstrate that the development of strong working partnerships, especially when supported by a significant investment of funding and resources from government, can bring about a more secure future for NIF, and in so doing ensure greater success in the ongoing battle against poverty, social injustice and deprivation.
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