By Halima BegumThe report looks at the emerging importance of social capital and both the voluntary sector and government’s role in developing it. Social capital is defined as ‘the norms and networks enabling people to share resources and work together’. Social networks are an important asset for individuals and communities: those with a rich stock of social capital will be in a stronger position to confront poverty and take advantage of new opportunities. The authors explore how government policy and programmes can affect the relationship between social capital and the voluntary sector. The report is based on two community case studies in London’s east end, both of which have different levels of social capital. Included in the report’s recommendations is a proposal that social capital should stand as a policy objective in its own right alongside community development, civil renewal and participation and should be funded accordingly.
Social workers from Blackburn with Darwen Council have broken new ground to become the first to advertise in the agricultural press to find foster carers.They thought the magazine ‘Farmers’ Weekly’ more usually associated with advertisements for farm machinery or fertilizer could be the perfect place to advertise for a foster family for a boy in the council’s care.Senior Social Worker Karen Wardle said staff believed the 11-year-old would be happiest living on a farm. He had found living in residential care very confining and it was important that he was found a foster placement that would give him the best opportunities to develop.
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More than half of England’s largest councils are now rated as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ and there has been a marked overall improvement in the performance of authorities, according to the second year of the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment, which is published today.For the first time the Commission has been able to measure improvement in councils’ overall performance. Key findings in its report show twenty-six councils have risen at least one performance category compared with only nine that have dropped. It reveals that progress has been fastest among the worst councils, with 14 of the 34 that were ranked as ‘poor’ or ‘weak’ in 2002 moving up a category. Improvements have been concentrated in services for the young, and older and vulnerable people.