Basic Introduction to Community Work - Central

• Asking for information and advice from people working in the
same field as you or areas that interest you.
• Being proactive in researching your ideas.
• Making contacts with people who may be able to identify
opportunities for you, and perhaps even offer you
support/advice in the future.
• Putting yourself in the right place at the right time.
• Building your own knowledge base.
Benefits
• It demonstrates to an agency/organisation your interest in their
services and remits. You will be seen as a stakeholder who
does more than just "read the website" when doing your
research.
• Getting an inside view will help you make more informed
decisions about your ideas and the support you require - a
contact may suggest a new avenue to explore, or correct a
misconception.
• It can be a great way to set up joint work and project
experience, or placements.
• Meeting new colleagues, agencies, and organisations and
sharing your enthusiasm can help break the ice and encourage
them to work with you in the future.
• You can gain a real insight into an organisation or project,
which will help when you need to rely on their services.
• You can access more potential contacts, and more
opportunities to get advice from people in the know.
• It allows you to know what is happening in an area and who is
doing it.
Partnerships
In general terms, a partnership is where services, activities, and
events are run by a number of groups and organisations. These
groups and organisations (partners) share the responsibility of
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