The Way Forward

Abstract

This chapter considers the future of community development practice over the next decade. Futures thinking can invariably go wrong, but it signposts some priority routes as we head towards 2030, the target year for the SDG Agenda. The chapter takes off from where chapter one ends. It proposes several priority areas for community development policy and practice: the need to place more focus upon climate justice and building green local economies; the need to place more emphasis upon the equalities agenda; the need for local government to play a more central role in community development; the need to harness the opportunities presented by digital technologies; the need to scale up staffing and professional development; and the need to improve the exchange of research, evaluation and learning across all aspects of community development practice.