Abstract
Although community inclusion brings a number of advantages for vulnerable individuals, it can also entail a range of challenges, and draws in issues of safety and security. This qualitative psychological study, therefore, aimed to explore the challenges being faced by two groups of vulnerable individuals: those with intellectual disabilities and dementia, and how these could be addressed in order to establish a community that is safe and welcoming for all. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with a range of community stakeholders—for instance, local businesses, residents, and individuals with intellectual disabilities, dementia and their carers—and data was thematically analysed to explore the issue of inclusion and participation particularly in relation to stigma and prejudice, self-worth, social isolation and feeling safe. As well as highlighting practical issues regarding inclusion and support, the work emphasised the psychological dimension, linking to a multi-faceted conception of community participation. While significant work is already addressing issues of risk and safety for vulnerable populations (such as “Keep Safe” schemes), the work described here leads to an alternative conceptualization, tied to notions of kindness in communities with a view to crafting communities capable of safely welcoming a wider variety of marginalized groups.
Highlights
Human beings have a basic need to belong, which causes them to affiliate, to join and be members of groups
We report the finding of a community-based qualitative study, based in a small town in the West of Scotland that was interested in making their community more inclusive and safe for all community members, especially vulnerable individuals such as those with dementia and/or an intellectual disability
Participants reflected on how some of these difficulties may be overcome and identified a range of potential enablers consisting of the provision of practical and emotional support captured by the theme of (5) supporting community participation
Summary
Human beings have a basic need to belong, which causes them to affiliate, to join and be members of groups. Existing research identifies a number of other advantages of community participation, such as health and social benefits [3], strengthening relationships between members [4], enhancing services and preventing crime [5]. Community participation has both a physical dimension, in terms of the engagement behaviour itself, and a psychological dimension which reflects motivational, emotional and attitudinal aspects
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