Civic engagement and local government strategies for sustainable local community development

Across Europe more and more citizens involve in voluntary grassroots and NGO activity. Concurrently, more local and national governments express an interest in increasing collaboration with voluntary organisations. The curiosity and interest as regards voluntary labour from public bodies seems to have grown as the financial crisis puts more and more pressure on municipal and national budgets. As such, the contribution of voluntary associations is seem as a supplement to more and more reduced public services, particularly within the social services field, care for the elderly, etc. but even, in schools, kindergartens, public park maintenance and many other fields. Within urban development and redevelopment, place making and regeneration there is in most European countries some tradition, and in some countries a long and well-developed tradition through several decades, for combining public urban regeneration with a range of participatory and collaborative measures aimed at involving local citizens in urban projects and programmes. In the paper it is discussed what motivates and drives members of voluntary community organisations (VCOs). Moreover it is discussed what is the role of volunteering in local communities and in relation to social capital, the diversity within the world of voluntary organisations, and the difference in views between public planners and volunteers of the role of volunteers. Three cases illustrate this as well as the need for capacity building of VCOs and the urban redevelopment potential and the social and economic sustainability deriving from strong, locally embedded VCOs. Finally, some ways to stimulate and grow the sustainability and independent role and influence of VCOs in local urban development are discussed.