ARK Academy

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About the approach

This project will use a community organising approach based on a specific campaigning style method inspired by the teachings of the US pioneer in community organising, Saul Alinsky.

The basic framework of the approach involves building relationships with a range of local civic institutions, through one-to-one meetings, in order to identify new potential leaders. These leaders are trained to run a Listening Campaign, engaging up to 1,000 people in structured conversations which will build relationships, focus on community strengths/assets, and uncover issues of common concern.

The issues that are identified through the Listening Campaign will be further researched and refined by the local leaders who will vote on an achievable agenda for action. Social action teams will be trained to respond to the issues that have been prioritised. They will also start to build constructive relationships with power-holders in the borough.

Central to this approach is the establishment of a diverse, fee-paying, independent and permanent alliance of local civic institutions (Brent Citizens), which will steer and sustain the community activities.

Challenge Prizes

Two Challenge Prizes will be also be used to help to stimulate and support action in the neighbourhood. The first is a Challenge Prize within the ARK Academy for the team that comes up with the best social action project that embodies the civitas ethos. The second is a £20,000 Challenge Prize for the best social-action project that arises from the Listening Campaign.

About the organisations

The lead: Ark Academy

ARK Academy is a recently established 3-18 school in the North London borough of Brent, with specialist status in mathematics and citizenship. The school has the ambition to be a national leader in active citizenship and is firmly committed to building a community based on justice and personal responsibility. Students are encouraged to develop tolerance and understanding for all cultures, traditions and faiths and to express their sense of civitas.

Expert partner: Citizens UK

Citizens UK develop and train networks of community organisers into community alliances which include faith groups, schools, trade unions, community groups and others. The approach originated in the United States through IAF Industrial Areas Foundation and has been developed in the UK through Citizens UK. As the sister organisation to Industrial Areas Foundation, Citizens UK has learnt, practiced and adapted the Alinsky-IAF method to fit the contemporary British urban context.

The organisation currently has a strong base in London from which it aims to further develop networks of organisers, one of which will be through building on the partnership with ARK to develop an alliance of organisations in Brent. A full-time Citizens UK Community Organiser will work with ARK Academy to create leadership and participation amongst students, staff, parents and neighbours, and will develop the wider Brent Alliance.

About the neighbourhood

Brent is a borough in North West London with a population of 260,000. It is characterised by ethnic and religious diversity. Over 90 per cent of the population identify themselves as religious; Christian (48 per cent) Hindu (17 per cent) and Muslim (12 per cent). There are pockets of high social capital that exist within certain bounded ethnic and religious groupings; Citizens UK will work with ARK and develop an alliance which will bridge these boundaries and unlock the potential power of citizens to act together on issues that are of common value.