developmentplus

developmentplus (the trading name of Lincoln Community Development Worker Project, formerly known locally as LCDP), is a community development organisation which has worked across the county of Lincolnshire since 1997. We are a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. We work alongside people in their community, facilitating their involvement in decisions that affect their lives, supporting them to identify and develop initiatives that they feel will improve their quality of life socially, environmentally, economically and through learning.

Our work in suicide prevention

We aim to empower residents in the community by encouraging them to acknowledge, discuss, and address their health issues, while signposting them to relevant health professionals for further support. Our initiatives include providing training and support programmes to help individuals overcome personal barriers, working collaboratively with strategic partners to tackle deprivation across Lincoln and Greater Lincoln, and developing volunteers to ensure the sustainability of support and community groups.

All of our work in Lincoln and Lincolnshire is based on the values of community development, working alongside people and not imposing our views on them but valuing their skills and abilities. This ensure their participation and provide opportunities for their personal development.

Our current priorities

Our current priorities focus on developing a deep understanding of communities, whether defined by interest, identity, or location, and identifying their needs and concerns. We prioritise bringing people together to collaboratively define their goals and develop plans to achieve them. By fostering effective teamwork within groups and encouraging collaboration with other groups and communities, we aim to build stronger connections.

We assist groups in determining the most suitable ways to organise themselves, whether through formal or informal structures, and support them in learning from one another while evaluating their activities. We also emphasise the importance of continuous professional development through critical reflection and learning from practice.

Our current challenges

The challenges we face include ensuring effective multi-agency working to provide cohesive support, signposting individuals who are suicidal and/or using substances to the appropriate services, and securing sufficient funding to sustain these essential initiatives.