Take Part: learning and citizenship

I witter on occasionally about how policy needs to be stimulating rather than just enforcing citizenship, and I think the projects on active learning for active citizenship which the Home Office set up a couple of years ago probably fit the bill. Now they've pulled lessons and a framework together from that programme, and called it Take Part. The aim, it says here,

is to provide programmes of active learning that enable people to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to become empowered citizens – citizens who are able to make an active contribution to their communities and influence public policies and services.

The manual, according to the press release,

'sets out the guiding principles and values for educating citizens to enable them to influence decision making and shape public services in their communities. It also provides practical advice on learning methods, and lots of examples of Take Part learning in action.'

There's a section in the framework about 'constructed (meaning facilitated) conversations' which starts to bring out the citizenship purpose of community development. It's a shame that there's still some unreflective use of the C word, but there's a lot of careful sifting of theoretical material gone on here and it's well worth absorbing.

There are regional events being held over the next month or so.