The challenges and contradictions of state-funded community organizing

The UK coalition government introduced the Community Organisers Programme in 2010, providing state funding to train community organizers in England for the first time. This article presents a case study in the north of England, exploring the implementation of the programme. It illustrates the challenges and contradictions faced by trainee community organizers and suggests lessons for community practitioners and policymakers of all political complexions in the United Kingdom and other countries