Defining well-being in community development from the ground up: a case study of participant and practitioner perspectives

Coburn, A. and Gormally, S. (2020) Defining well-being in community development from the ground up: a case study of participant and practitioner perspectives. Community Development Journal, 55(2), pp. 237-257. (doi: 10.1093/cdj/bsy048)

Abstract

The concept of well-being is part of an inter-disciplinary agenda for health improvement and human flourishing, critiqued as a superficial ‘solution’ to structural inequality (Friedli, L. (2003) Mental Health Improvement ‘concepts and definitions’: briefing Paper for the National Advisory Group, Scottish Executive, Edinburgh; White, S. C. (2010) Analysing wellbeing: a framework for development practice, Development in Practice, 20 (2), 158–172). This article discusses an evaluation of three health promoting community projects, over a two-year period. The study identifies important features for understanding well-being at grassroots, community and practice levels. Local people had viable and holistic perceptions of well-being that helped them reflect on their current contexts. Practitioners tended to have a more limited conceptualization by associating wellbeing with mental health or community safety. Consideration of findings identified five conditions of wellbeing for community development practice: creating a sense of community; strong volunteering ethos; networking and partnership working; positive language; enhanced relationships. Applying these findings in practice helped to create a new reflective grid, incorporating seven elements of well-being. Participants found this grid easy to use and affirming in facilitating reflection on their personal well-being. This was also beneficial for community practitioners, who were not clinically qualified, to facilitate reflective learning at grassroots level. Analysis of this research enables a conclusion to be drawn to suggest that well-being is a valuable construct in unifying community development.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gormally, Professor Sinead
• Authors: Coburn, A., and Gormally, S.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Social Justice Place and Lifelong Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > People, Place & Social Change
• Journal Name: Community Development Journal
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0010-3802
• ISSN (Online): 1468-2656
• Published Online: 22 November 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 Oxford University Press and Community Development Journal
• First Published: First published in Community Development Journal 55(2):237–257
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher