Strong traditions of civic engagement – voter turnout, newspaper readership, membership in socieities and circles and clubs – are the hallmarks of a successful region.

Robert Putnam

First, what is social capital? There are many definitions and much debate -  but basically it is the idea that social networks are vital to successful communities. Just as capital profits drive business,  gains in social capital drives much of the work carried out by the voluntary sector.

How does this concept of social capital translate from an academic defintion to actual communities. There are examples right across the county. From Measham to Stathern,  Fleckney to Tilton on the Hill, volunteers have cleaned streets, tidied verges, run barbeques, redesigned parks, set up toy librarys, provided key advice, trained carers, developed playing fields, helped build community and children centre’s, built skateparks and BMX tracks, established community radio stations, organised tea dances. All with the support of volunteers and the wider community, all generating social capital.

Leicestershire Together regards the pursuit of social capital as central to its work in building stronger communities and making the county a safe and attractive place to live and work.  We are supporting a wide range of projects that are seeking to increase,  for example, levels of volunteering throughout the county. We are seeking to increase the number of opportunities for young and old to play a part in the cultural and social life of Leicestershire.

In isolation, these opportunities have intrinsic benefits. However, the positive impact of such opportunities are more widely felt – whether it is giving young people opportunities to develop, older people the opportunity to become more physically active, a vibrant voluntary sector develops and harnesses social capital, nurturing a sense of community and collective worth.

Through partners such as Voluntary Action Leicester, the Rural Community Council and the seven district voluntary action centres we are working to develop parish plans, improve neighbourhoods, and train and increase the capacity of the voluntary sector.