Asset-based community development (ABCD) is an approach to working with communities that celebrates strength. It focuses on what communities have to give, looking at ‘what is strong’ rather than ‘what is “wrong”‘ in communities.
At Touchstone, our ABCD work is driven by a deep belief in the power of communities to create their own lasting change. We work closely with community members, listening to their stories, and ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, so that everyone feels they have a stake in shaping their community.
At Touchstone, our current ABCD project is Ignite, which works with communities in Burmantofts, Richmond Hill and Lincoln Green. Read on to find out more about our Ignite project.
IGNITE: Growing community power together
Ignite is a new National Lottery‑funded project about community power. In Ignite, Touchstone works alongside residents in Lincoln Green, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill to explore what power looks like locally, where it already exists, and how it can grow.
Rather than arriving with fixed ideas or ready‑made solutions, Ignite starts by listening. The project is based on ABCD principles, which simply means focusing on the strengths, skills, knowledge and relationships that already exist in a community, not just the problems.
How You Can Get Involved
Community-Led Power and Projects
Ignite is about creating the right conditions for community power to grow and recognising that the people who live here are the experts in their own lives. Community power can show up in lots of ways:
- in neighbours supporting each other,
- in people organising informal activities,
- in quiet influencers as well as confident leaders.
IGNITE is about noticing that power, making space for it, and helping people use it in ways that matter to them. As part of Ignite, we have small pots of funding available to support community‑led ideas, so if you’ve got a thought, a spark, or a project you’d love to explore, this is a great place to begin.
Community-Led Conversations
A big part of the project is also co‑production, which means people aren’t just asked for their opinions, but supported to shape ideas, make decisions and take ownership,. As part of this work, we are looking for Community Connectors, which are local residents who help build trust, start conversations and make sure different voices are included, especially those that aren’t always heard. If this could be you then we would love to support to help to build your community work.
Community Plan
Over the year, Ignite will support community‑led conversations, small groups and creative activities that fit different people’s ways of taking part. All of this will lead to a Community Celebration and a Community Plan, owned by residents and shaped by what matters most to them.