Building communities collaboratively: the Milton Keynes Community Mobiliser Service

This article describes the development and continuing work of the Community Mobiliser Service in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. It presents selected findings from two qualitative evaluation studies. The findings suggest that the Milton Keynes approach has much to offer as a community development initiative, having successfully stimulated community mobilization and participation on several estates in Milton Keynes for nearly ten years. This article presents a snapshot of the service from the perspectives of parents, young people, and other community members. It is shown that the service has been instrumental in supporting individuals and groups of community members to strive towards personal goals, develop community-based initiatives, and reduce dependency on services. This article concludes by outlining elements of effective practice in building communities collaboratively