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Changing nature of community leadership

Leadership within a community has become more complicated and open to criticism. More people, with differing backgrounds, skills, interests and degrees of authority, claim to lead different communities within a growing number and complexity of arenas, e.g from local strategic partnerships to community fun days. (See partnership working and governance). This has inevitably led to tensions, particularly between those who are elected and those, such as VCOs and community activists, who also believe they represent local communities.

What are the implications?

• In this environment, all leaders may face challenges to their legitimacy and accountability.
• VCOs and community activists may be seen to speak on behalf of communities, but without an elected mandate.
• Falling voter turnout means that councillors are elected by ever fewer local voters. (See engagement in formal politics)
• Experienced community activists can often engage with local communities and their needs in more direct and therefore more credible ways than elected government members.
• The growing diversity and complexity of local needs means it is more important than ever to have strong leaders who can respond skilfully to the demands of competing voices.

Moving forward

Tensions between community leaders from different groups means that a VCO’s legitimacy to speak on behalf of its users may be challenged.

• How can your organisation demonstrate to local representatives the many ways in which you are accountable to your users?

Community leaders may increasingly need to overcome and respond to the tensions and diverse needs of communities, leaders and other bodies.

•  Can your organisation help community activists to make or strengthen links with others (e.g. government institutions, commissioning bodies and partnerships)?  

Want to know more?

This driver is a stub and will be completed soon.  Here we will link to external documents and resources for further reading.