We are committed to supporting communities to continue to be strong, resilient, and sustainable. As a council, we talk about asset based community development (ABCD) and how we are incorporating that into our work but this is just a formal way of saying that we want to work with our communities, providing support to you to develop your own community strengths.
We believe that people live more fulfilling lives when they have the power to shape their own outcomes and change things that matter to them.
To help us to provide this support to our communities, we are working with a number of organisations across the district, to employ Community Builders.
Connected Communities Strategy
The Connected Communities strategy, created by Malvern Hills District Council, was approved by councillors at an Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday 23 November 2021.
pdf Connected Communities Strategy (designed pdf version) (8.35 MB)
document Connected Communities Strategy (accessible word version) (51 KB)
The strategy forms part of our Five-Year Plan commitment to ‘develop and implement an asset-based community development strategy which supports the building of strong, resilient and sustainable communities.’
The plan aims to focus on ‘what’s strong, not what’s wrong’ whilst also adopting an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach to its work. The strategy is based around three central themes of healthier, safer and inclusive, stronger and sustainable communities.
ABCD: Working with our farming community (case study report)
Working within MHDC’s Connected Communities Strategy, Rural Communities Officer Linda Price has produced a detail report of the steps involved in successfully working with the farming community over the last three years. The aim has been to facilitate ways for this community of interest to come together, recognise, harness and ignite their many assets into community action.
It shows how we ‘support’ and not ‘do for’. The report emphasises the strength-based approach of ‘what is strong’ and not ‘what is wrong’ and the need to have lived experience to understand the generational way of life and connections to history, land, nature and community that a farming way of life encompasses.
The case study outlines that farming is more than a business with complex patterns of living and working in our beautiful countryside. Here, it is shown how the work of women, young and older people is often hidden from view and not quantifiable but that it is crucial to maintaining the diversity of farming in our district.
The ABCD steps taken to develop trusted relationships and to act as facilitator for the farming community to hold events and to develop sustainable projects and support in ‘their’ community of interest is highlighted throughout. We know the mental health challenges and high suicide rates that exist within the farming community, but this was not our starting point. The report highlights that community action is part of maintaining positive mental well-being.
Linda states that the farming community is not hard to reach and this report highlights how and why this is the case ending with outlining some exciting farming community initiatives that are now developing.
document Read the 'Working with our farming community' case study report 2025. (1.46 MB)
Linda Price, Rural Communities Officer, Malvern Hills District Council.
Community Builders
This project is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
We have a number of Community Builders working with residents and partners across the district, to strengthen community connections, with the aim of reducing isolation and improving health and wellbeing.
These roles form a key part of our strength-based approach to community development (also known as Asset Based Community Development or ABCD) and make links to supporting our Connected Communities strategy.
Alison Knowles (Platform Housing)
Alison is based at Platform Housing and will focus mainly on working with the Pickersleigh community. Alison works part-time.
Alison previously worked as a Community Officer for a housing association, covering Malvern Hills and Herefordshire, so knows the district quite well. Alison is looking forward to working within communities and helping build on the foundations already laid out.
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Elaine Fraser (Platform Housing)
Elaine is based at Platform Housing and covers the Malvern Hills District, supporting refugee and resettled guests. Elaine works part time.
Elaine supports Ukrainian residents and other resettled individuals and families by helping them access the services they need and to build independent lives. She also works on community projects that bring people together, celebrate different cultures, and make Malvern a more welcoming place for everyone. A key part of her role involves working closely with local groups and colleagues to provide joined-up, meaningful support.
Elaine is also the Chair of the Korosten Malvern Twinning Association, which is building strong links between Malvern and the Ukrainian town of Korosten. The association works closely with schools and local organisations to create opportunities for cultural exchange and community connection.
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Cathy Garner (Kempsey Parish Council)
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Barbara Stephens (Little Malvern and Welland Parish Council)
Barbara is the Community Development Coordinator for the parish of Welland and has been working in the role for 18 months after moving to the village in 2022.
She has been working within the community, initially to research the needs of its residents and has implemented plans and activities to ensure that local people are involved, informed, listened to and included - all part of making Welland a great place to live. Enabling residents to develop their own ideas, come together and have access to local resources, information, clubs and activities has been and continues to be a key part of the job.
Many activities and groups would not be able to flourish without the support of volunteers and Barbara has been working to develop and support the growing number of people who are now are a fundamental part of making things happen in Welland. "I hope that we have introduced new activities and helped folks to form valuable links with others. This is an ongoing process and I welcome new ideas from everyone in the community," says Barbara.
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Connecting with your community
As well as connecting with your Community Builders, Parish councils are your grassroots local councils, run by councillors who volunteer their time to make their community a better place. They work towards improving community wellbeing and providing better services.
Your councillors meet regularly as a parish council and welcome attendance and participation from the communities they serve. Meetings are advertised, but you can contact the parish council clerk for dates and times of the forthcoming meetings. Parish councils also get involved in lots of projects with their communities. Working groups are made up of parish councillors and community representatives working on a specific project, such as setting up a new local shop, carrying out a parish plan or helping to develop a neighbourhood plan. Get involved or find out more on the Parish Council webpage.
Some examples of communities working together are:
To help us shine a spotlight on asset-based community development we have commissioned a short film that showcases some of the brilliant community organisations and groups across the district already working effectively in this way.