Alison Gilchrist is an independent consultant who has worked in community development for over 40 years as an activist, practitioner, trainer, researcher and manager.Marilyn Taylor, Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for Voluntary Action Research, has a long track record of research in relation to community policy and practice and has published widely in this field.

"It's an extremely useful publication, which presents some refreshingly straightforward observations, whilst acknowledging the complexity of the politics and the practice. I will recommend it to students". Mae Shaw, Institute of Education, University of Edinburgh "Great book. I really relied on it in class as language was accessible and practical examples connected with the students." Sharon Mallon, Staffordshire University

• 1. Introduction2. What is community development?3. The changing policy context4. Theoretical concepts5. Effective and ethical community development6. Community development in action7. Challenges for practice8. Future prospects

Alison Gilchrist is an independent consultant who has worked in community development for over 40 years as an activist, practitioner, trainer, researcher and manager.Marilyn Taylor, Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for Voluntary Action Research, has a long track record of research in relation to community policy and practice and has published widely in this field.

"It's an extremely useful publication, which presents some refreshingly straightforward observations, whilst acknowledging the complexity of the politics and the practice. I will recommend it to students". Mae Shaw, Institute of Education, University of Edinburgh "Great book. I really relied on it in class as language was accessible and practical examples connected with the students." Sharon Mallon, Staffordshire University

• 1. Introduction2. What is community development?3. The changing policy context4. Theoretical concepts5. Effective and ethical community development6. Community development in action7. Challenges for practice8. Future prospects

Alison Gilchrist is an independent consultant who has worked in community development for over 40 years as an activist, practitioner, trainer, researcher and manager.Marilyn Taylor, Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for Voluntary Action Research, has a long track record of research in relation to community policy and practice and has published widely in this field.

"It's an extremely useful publication, which presents some refreshingly straightforward observations, whilst acknowledging the complexity of the politics and the practice. I will recommend it to students". Mae Shaw, Institute of Education, University of Edinburgh "Great book. I really relied on it in class as language was accessible and practical examples connected with the students." Sharon Mallon, Staffordshire University

• 1. Introduction2. What is community development?3. The changing policy context4. Theoretical concepts5. Effective and ethical community development6. Community development in action7. Challenges for practice8. Future prospects