Brighton Council launched National Volunteer Week back in May with a participatory workshop in collaboration with the Jeder Institute at the Brighton Civic Center. This two-day event aimed to foster community spirit through Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). The Jeder Institute is a not-for-profit organisation that operates across Australia. Through workshops, they aim to bring people together to realise their full potential, and engage community members in conversations that matter.

Led by Fiona Miller from the Jeder Institute, and supported by Kylie Murphy from Brighton Council and Joselle Griffin from Australian Red Cross, over 60 participants from the Brighton Municipality and beyond learnt the principles of ABCD. Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in discovering shared values, fostering relationships, and raising collaborative initiatives. They explored what matters most to the community and how collective action can bring about positive change.

Three key principles were explored:

• Hope – helping other possibilities emerge
• Care – discovering what people care about enough to act
• Relationships – building and strengthening relationships is key to action.

The end of the workshop saw the birth of seven new community initiatives, supported by seed funding. Looking ahead, participants have committed to reconvening in six months to assess progress and share updates on the initiatives.