Open Hearts Open Minds

There are a number of interlinked factors that cause people to be socially-excluded: for example, unemployment, poverty, poor housing, poor health, low levels of education, etc. These factors can act as barriers to people accessing the opportunities that are available to other people. For staff working with socially-excluded groups, it is important that they have a good understanding of how to support people in breaking down the barriers caused by exclusion.

To support staff and their organisations, ECI commissioned the development of a Social Inclusion Self-Assessment Handbook. This tool was developed by Sam Magne and Angie McTiernan and leads people through exercises to reflect on their own practice and that of their organisation. It is also concerned with helping people to identify the support and development needed to make changes, in order to work more effectively with people in reducing barriers that are created by disadvantage. We developed a training course to support the use of the handbook. 

As a result of research undertaken into how the handbook could be developed to meet current needs, we commissioned the development of an Open Hearts Open Minds website and e-newsletter through funding from NLDC (Neighbourhood Learning for Deprived Communities). This development was further supported by Devon County Council.  The handbook is no longer available in book form but you can sign up to Open Hearts Open Minds by clicking on the link above.