I have long experience of community development and consider that it is still as important today as it was in the 1970s and 1980s for empowering women. Policy makers should refocus on the voice of women who are marginalised, and create safe spaces for women to develop their skills in a nurturing environment; we need to put gender back on the agenda. I see the community as an important knowledge base through its various assets and networks, which are being underused and undervalued. Everyone has something to offer.

The 1990s saw a decline in community development due to lack of funded posts and a lack of capacity building and training opportunities, as well as changed funding priorities, which lead to community disempowerment and professionals ‘doing things to communities’, creating a culture of dependency. In times of austerity the state now once again looks to communities for solutions to social, economic, and environment issues.

Checkoway argues that:

In the UK, community development was inspired by three traditions dating back to the 19th century, as Gilchrist (2009, pp.24-25) explains:

• • self-help groups offering neighbourly support during hardship;

• • sharing resources through organisations such as trade unions;

• • voluntary service to improve the lives of the disadvantaged, which by the 1970s was influenced by radical community and collective activism.

The 1990s saw a decline in community development due to a lack of funding for posts, a lack of training being offered, changing funding priorities and government policies. However, community development is now back on the agenda again through the work of the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), who want to give more power back to local neighbourhoods and communities in order for them to have a bigger say on local issues, participate in decision making and design and deliver services themselves.

The history of community development in Rotherham

Britain's steel industry brought Pakistani/Kashmiri families like mine to Rotherham seeking work in the 1960s. More women joined their husbands here in the 1970s.