Building Community Capacity

Whilst adapted from the Sport for Development literature, community capacity building is also relevant for community based GSCs because they provide a structured way in which people can interact. Labonte & Laverack (2001) describe community capacity as the ability to work as a collective unit, bring necessary resources to facilitate the process of building capacity and the skills and knowledge to identify problems and create solutions.

Wendel et al (2009)’s seminal research emphasises that there are seven dimensions to building community capacity. Although, established within a sports for development context, these dimensions’ focus on the benefits that GSC’s bring to local communities and which become at risk in the face of declining financial support. These dimensions could be applicable in multiple geographical settings such as rural, suburban or inner city and are outlined below.

Skills and Resources

The first dimension from Wendel et al (2009) refers to the ability of GSCs to increase the level of skills and resources within a community. Despite differences between geographical settings (e.g.

population, age demographics or resources) the ability of GSCs to assist in skills development within a community is vital for any community to grow and remain sustainable. For example, skills development by volunteer’s, whether that be coaching, administration or refereeing gives rise to specific expertise. This expertise can then be passed on to new members or other organisations within the community, leading to the growth of the community’s overall skill base.

Many skills learnt such as officiating, finance, or operations, can also be applied to other areas of life both personally or in the context of paid employment.

For GSCs to assist in skills development, it is important to call upon the support of national sporting organisations or federations for guidance, providing much needed materials, resources and funding. In this regards, part of that skill development for office bearers in particular, might include learning how to secure local sport infrastructure and reaching out for community support.

The availability of sport facilities and supporting infrastructure is of huge benefit to a local community. When there is a broad scope of available sport options and skill development, GSCs encourage involvement by a many groups within the community.

Nature of Social Relations

The second dimension from Wendel et al (2009) concerns relationship building within communities. When a groups of like-minded individuals gather, especially around a common interest such a sport, a sense of community begins to develop. This means that as people continue to interact with each other, they learn from each other and encounter positive social interactions with other participants (e.g. volunteers, spectators, athletes). This creates social capital which develops trust and reciprocity between members and other community actors, enhancing opportunities for engagement with the wider community (Misener & Doherty, 2012).

Putnam (1993) notes that social capital incorporates features of social organisation, such as networks, norms and trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit. Social capital is built as a result of belonging to a particular group or social structure (Coleman, 1990) and is based on interconnectedness rather than the separateness of human activity and human goals. Broadly speaking, social capital is the ability to develop relationships within the community that you can call on when you need some form of assistance. When social capital is present, it tends to enable individuals to act more effectively within the social structure they find themselves in (Coleman, 1990).

At its core, social capital is formed from trust and reciprocity (Pretty & Ward, 2001; Atherley, 2006). Misener & Doherty (2012) contends that social capital creates trust and reciprocity between members and with other community organisations, enhancing opportunities for engagement with the wider community. Social Capital is both cumulative, meaning it builds over time, and is transferable between organisations (Glaeser, Laibson, & Sacerdote, 2002). The networks created by the GSC and its members, can be a great asset the GSC when dealing with private organisations (Atherley, 2006). For example, employment opportunities can come about through the local business network for local people. Additionally, the opportunity to be coached and participate at higher levels within the sport can also materialise, furthering an individual’s network.

Therefore, GSCs, as organisations, have become a mechanism to build community cohesion, by using sport to build individual and group social capital. Forming connectedness and relationships is important in relation to being able to see a secure future for yourself and the collective group.

Collective Identity

Through a GSC, sport can be used as a mechanism to build and strengthen collective identity (Wendel et al, 2009). The ability to see oneself as part of a bigger group of people also helps with establishing self-identity. GSCs can also provide the necessary psychological space for inter-group dialogue. Structures, mechanisms, and spaces which allow for community dialogue about issues affecting the lives of people within that community, is an effective mechanism for communication and citizen input into how their local community is run and how it can be improved.

Leadership

Wendel et al (2009) contends that people with positions such as office bearers, coaches or officials become part of a leadership group within the GSC. Most times, these positions are filled by volunteers within a GSC setting (Cuskelly, 2004). This group advocates for the benefit of the club and also the benefit of the community. Members also participate by having an active say about how the GSC is run and the activities it undertakes in the community, through club forums and the Annual General Meeting.

Leadership in GSCs can spread to leadership in the community. Effective and sustainable community leadership and leadership development is demonstrated among participants and volunteers and importantly, gives credibility and symbolic power to participants (e.g. athletes, coaches). These individuals have the opportunity to become role models and examples for the rest of the community. Additionally, through GSCs, leaders in the community can use their status to build a better community using their varied experiences and networks.

Civic Participation

Linked to collective identity and leadership, Wendel et al (2009) explains that social capital within sports organisations can help distribute community power and provide the ability for citizens to participate in their community processes. Involvement in sports can encourage civic engagement and citizen involvement and as mentioned above, help with providing the basis of community identity which bring people together.

Value system

When there are shared community values such as democracy, inclusion, and social justice, Wendel et al (2009) states that it can be reflected in a community’s approach to sport. For example, sport programs can teach ideal cultural values to participants and allow others to learn about the people in their community.

Learning culture

GSCs can help develop an understanding and awareness of the local community and its history, as well as allow the community to critically reflect on their shared experiences (Wendel et al, 2009). Through involvement in sports, communities can feedback to and seek opinions from multiple stakeholders. This can help form and maintain partnerships, especially when GSCs want to share information for benchmarking and improving how they operate. By creating more learning opportunities, GSCs can provide better services to participants and help with building stronger communities.

Therefore, Wendel et al (2009) describes how GSCs can use their existing social capital and activities to influence and build up their communities. The following discussion outlines some specific ways GSCs can use their standing in society, influence and shared values for the benefit of individuals and the wider community.