Çigdemim neighbourhood association in Turkey: What the Big Society can achieve without any government funding

Objectives

What is striking about Çigdemim Neighbourhood Association is not only the enthusiasm and commitment of their core members but also its drive to improve its performance. For example, the association has a well defined vision and mission statement and also clear objectives with ambitious targets for its activities.

The current strategic objectives of the neighbourhood association are:

• To improve the quality of life in the neighbourhood with a particular focus on community safety
• To make citizens proud of their neighbourhood
• To increase volunteering
• To co-produce public services with local communities
• To reduce social exclusion

The Association’s values include:

• Participatory
• Team work oriented
• Valuing voluntarism
• Impartial and independent of political parties
• Free from prejudice, anti-discrimination
• Environment-conscious
• Committed to life-long learning

Asuman Selcuk provided Governance International with this case study on 10 December 2010.