How was it developed?
In 2002, the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, which was housed within the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, recruited 24 community activists from across the UK to advise the Government on neighbourhood renewal issues.
At the end of their first 2-day meeting, all 24 members of the National Community Forum (NCF) agreed that one of the biggest barriers to achieving neighbourhood renewal was the benefits system. This is because the benefits trap disproportionately affects poor neighbourhoods, where large percentages of people on benefits live.
Over the next few years the Forum worked with Ministers and Civil Servants to explore a range of possible solutions to this issue.
During this time, the Forum developed its ideas and involved hundreds of community organisations across the UK in shaping possible solutions. The Community Allowance is the best of these possible solutions that could work within the current benefits system.
The NCF created strong partnerships with other organisations that also recognised what a serious issue this was and the CREATE Consortium was formed. Jess Steele, Chair of the CREATE Consortium and an original member of the National Community Forum (she now works at the DTA) has been instrumental in developing the Community Allowance. She has presented the proposal to 11 different Ministers since 2002.
