Community Strategies

Community strategies refer to structured plans designed to build, manage, and grow communities, whether online or within local areas, by fostering engagement, shared values, and sustainable development.

There are two main contexts in which "community strategy" is used:

1. Online Community Strategy
   This is a clear, actionable plan focused on creating and nurturing an online group of people with shared interests or goals. It serves as a roadmap that defines:

   • Purpose: Why the community exists
   • Audience: Who the community serves
   • Value delivery: How the community will engage members and provide ongoing value through activities, content, and interactions

   A strong online community strategy prevents stagnation by maintaining member engagement and aligning community activities with clear goals and resources. It includes setting specific goals, a roadmap for growth, governance structures, and mechanisms for measuring success.

2. Local Authority Community Strategy (Sustainable Community Strategy)
   In the UK context, a community strategy (or sustainable community strategy) is a long-term plan mandated for local authorities to promote or improve the economic, social, and environmental well-being of their areas. This strategy aims to contribute to sustainable development by involving local government, voluntary sectors, private sectors, and residents in collaborative planning and action.

Summary Table

In essence, community strategies are comprehensive plans that guide how communities—whether virtual or geographic—are developed and sustained to achieve shared goals and provide value to their members or residents.