Yesterday saw the public launch of the YouCanDo Guides at an event in Westminster. I’ve spent much of the last month or so helping to produce the material that explains what the Guides are, and who they are for.

So what are they? And who are they for?

Well, have you heard of The Scarman Trust? It was set up in the wake of the Scarman report, itself a consequence of inner city riots back in the 1980s. The Trust has been working with community groups, volunteers and fundraisers ever since, helping them to realise their full potential.

In practical terms, that means the Trust has accumulated years of specialised knowledge, which it wanted to share with others. That’s what the Guides are for - they distill everything the Scarman Trust’s professionals have learned into a series of study courses that anyone can undertake. The aim is to keep that knowledge alive, to spread it far and wide.

The Guides - which cover a wide range of community group activities - are relevant to activists and local government officers. Some of them can be useful for individuals wanting to improve the way they deal with other people.

I’m delighted to say that all the Guides are available for free download under Creative Commons licence.