A Community Asset Transfer should be driven by, respond to the needs of and have clear benefits for the local community it serves.
To help build a case, demonstrate that an asset is needed, and to get to know the community you are working in, organisations should engage with them and get the views of a wide range of people.
Different groups to engage with can include:
- current users (if applicable)
- potential new users
- other local community groups
- residents who live close to the asset
- national governing body (if affiliated)
- active partnership.
An asset transfer project is likely to benefit and provide opportunities for a several different groups within your community. These groups will likely need to be engaged in different ways and at different times, so it’s important to think about how you’ll do this.
Think about the needs of people with long-term health conditions or disabilities, women and girls, older adults, the LGBTQ+ community, those from ethnically diverse communities and different religions, and lower socio-economic groups.
You should also use your engagement efforts to identify and listen to those who may feel negatively towards your organisation or the asset you are taking on, as this will help you understand their concerns and identify ways to respond and address these.
Review our understanding and communicating with people or market research webpages for more information on how you can engage with people and understand their motivations.
The Youth Sport Trust, in partnership with Sport England, have also developed a youth voice toolkit to help organisations actively seek the view of young people.