In this episode, Becky Harford - co-founder of Benthyg Cymru (benthyg is the Welsh word for 'to borrow') - returns five years after her first appearance on the podcast way back in 2018 when we were first introduced to the concept of a Library of Things (LoT) in Cardiff. Since then Benthyg has grown from a single LoT in Cardiff, to a network of over 20 all across Wales. The LoT concept is not confined to Wales, but a networked approach to developing local LoTs *is* unique. Becky explains what has helped fuel the expansion; some of the challenges faced in the last 5 years (hello pandemic!!); and how community development workers can help legitimise an idea that despite being so simple is challenging behaviours that are hardwired into society. You can follow/contact Benthyg Cymru at: www.benthyg-cymru.org twitter.com/benthyg instagram.com/benthyg linkedin.com/company/benthyg-cymru

This episode is a bit of a departure in that it is an edited version of an interview Jan Huyton and I did with Radio Cardiff at the end of May about the fortnightly Philosophy in Pubs group we host in Cardiff. Philosophy in Pubs is a grassroots network across the UK that promotes the merits of philosophical discussion in public spaces (not necessarily in pubs). In the interview we talk through how a discussion tends to go, importance of facilitation, and why a 'stimulus' is important. To know more about the Philosophy in Pubs network visit https://www.philosophyinpubs.co.uk/page/index/home. To know more about our CF14 PiP group in Cardiff that meets fortnightly in The Railway Pub in Llandaff North, visit: twitter.com/CF14_PiP facebook.com/groups/1339395263122904 cf14-philosophy-in-pubs.mailchimpsites.com/ With thanks to Ceri Stennett and all at Radio Cardiff, an independent community radio station: http://radiocardiff.org/ twitter.com/radiocardiff

In this episode Russell chat's with Puru Miah about the community and trade union organising that undertakes in East London. Puru is also one of the founders of People's PPE - Philosophy, Politics and Economics - a programme, started in early 2016, of independent community education delivered through debates and seminars. Puru discusses some of the similarities and differences to organising in a workplace setting and in a community setting, and provides a few examples of his organising. As well as mentioning some of his key influences, such as Phil Piratin and David Harvey, Puru also provides some tips and advice for aspiring and budding organisers. A reading list and links to the numerous references Puru makes is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k8REDrRorxnyTnwRApgOeT1PdM2-3FhC/view?usp=share_link You can also follow Puru and the People's PPE at: twitter.com/purumiah www.purumiah.com twitter.com/peoplesppe youtube.com/@PeoplesPPE ___________ [email protected] twitter.com/CommDevtPodcast twitter.com/llannerch

In this episode - recorded summer 2022 - Jess Gitsham, Communications Manager at Bristol Energy Cooperative in England, tells us about her work; why a co-operative approach is important; the community energy movement and how it in builds solidarities across different sectors to advance the movement. Follow Bristol Energy Cooperative on: youtube.com/channel/UCojVboGhwWw4FZSnOY8wvwQ/featured twitter.com/briznrg www.bristol.energy.coop _______________________ Support The Community Development Podcast at Patreon.com/TheCDPodcast

Here's an oral essay I recorded in 2021 during the pandemic for The Co-operative College's Re-cast zine Inspired by the fiction and non-fiction of Raymond Williams it reflects on podcasts as deliberative community media and a form of open pedagogy. To learn more about Raymond Williams visit: Raymond Williams Society: raymondwilliams.co.uk/ Raymond Williams Foundation: raymondwilliamsfoundation.org.uk/ And twitter.com/raymondkeywords posts a quote from Williams' work every weekday morning daily. (copyright - Russell Todd)

In this episode Ken Moon explains his motives behind setting up a community land bank serving Pontypridd and its environs: Tir Pontypridd. He also explains why the ownership and control of land is such a central issue of social justice and locates the concept of a land bank in the wider context of the climate emergency we are facing. You can sign up for either a £3, £5 or £10 a month tiers at Tir Pontypridd's Patreon: patreon.com/tirpontypridd. Annual memberships are also available; email Ken at Ken at [email protected] for further information about these and all other information about the venture. You can follow Tir Pontypridd on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/2054320881367724/ You can read Ken's LinkedIn post that we refer to here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ken-moon-57b8b717_tir-pontypridd-securing-land-for-community-activity-7033108628374974464-dyV7?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop You can support The Community Development Podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/thecdpodcast

Grief Space in Cardiff is a project run by ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely - in Cardiff, in partnership with the cancer charity Macmillan, as part of its Compassionate Communities programme. In this episode, project lead Kimberley Jones explains how community development underpins the project's approach to engaging local people; develops collective responses to supporting people experiencing grief; and remains sympathetic to different cultural conceptions of death, bereavement and grief Follow: twitter.com/elycaerau twitter.com/macmillancancer www.elycaerau.com You can support this podcast by becoming a patron: www.patreon.com/TheCDPodcast

Professor of Social Work at the University of York Martin Webber joins this episode to discuss his research into social prescribing and the particular model called Community Enhanced Social Prescribing which seeks to achieve not only health outcomes for individuals in receipt of social prescribing activities; but which also contributes to the community/-ies in which social prescribing activities occur achieving social and community outcomes such as stronger social networks, interdependencies, and so on. More about the work can be found in this 2020 open access paper 'Community-Enhanced Social Prescribing: Integrating Community in Policy and Practice': https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s42413-020-00080-9.pdf Follow Martin at: twitter.com/mgoat73 https://martinwebber.net/ You can support this podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/TheCDPodcast

In this episode, Russell is joined by Anna Clarke (twitter.com/annaiclarke) who is European Trustee and Chair of the International Association of Community Development (IACD) to discuss its mission, work and networks. In particular, recorded while the COP26 climate emergency summit was being held in Glasgow, Anna discusses how the IACD is addressing climate change as an issue of social justice. You can join IACD here: https://www.iacdglobal.org/join-us/membership-fees/ The forthcoming IACD book International Community Development Practice is available in hardback, paperback, and e-book formats on Routledge to buy here: https://www.routledge.com/International-Community-Development-Practice/McConnell-Daniel-Muia-Clarke/p/book/9780367691240?utm_source=individuals&utm_medium=shared_link&utm_campaign=B019147_hg2_1au_7pp_d741 You can support this podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/TheCDPodcast

In November 2020 an online article found its way to me by Associate Editor at Peace, Land and Bread, Christian Noakes (twitter.com/comrade_cricket) called ‘Displacement of the Dispossessed: Community Development Under Capitalism’: https://www.peacelandbread.com/post/displacement-of-the-dispossessed The way it deconstructed gentrification and its lexicon, re-presenting it to be the pernicious and insidious process it is, is remarkable. It’s a must-read for anyone who looks around them, particularly in (though not confined to) urban areas, and is frustrated at the abundance of bland, unimaginative, speculative development they see, and in particular for anyone who feels they have a diminishing - what David Harvey calls - ‘right to the city’. Support the podcast by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/TheCDPodcast