Active Learning for Active Citizenship- Lessons from Britain?

Woodward V¹*

1. Social Research and Regeneration Unit, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK

While this paper would contribute to deliberations within both streams at this conference, it is aimed primarily at those focusing on practice. I combine my research and consultancy work with a part time secondment to the Civil Renewal Unit at the Home Office, in Britain. This follows on from many years of work as a community worker and academic, involved in projects such as local Citizens’ Juries.

Like the Queensland Government, the current British Government are committed to encouraging more people to be active in their communities and public life more generally. As part of this the Civil Renewal Unit are presently developing policy and supporting practice that builds community capacity. Within this context I am leading a project to encourage Active Learning for Active Citizenship emphasising the knowledge and strength of people active in ‘bottom-up’ action within civil society. The project is a fascinating partnership between government and the voluntary and community sector.

The paper will aim not just to help people learn about the Active Learning for Active Citizenship project, but also to learn from, and critically reflect on, the tensions, excitement and enthusiasm generated by the project. The nine Active Learning for Active Citizenship Hubs provide varied valuable insights into issues related to engaging communities and provide some models of potential use for those involved in trying to improve democracy worldwide. To maximise learning about positive ways forward, the Hubs are deliberately working in different ways and focusing on different key aspects but within an overall framework.

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