Reformulating Wolfenden? The roles and impact of local development agencies in supporting voluntary and community action in the UK

This paper reviews the work of Local Development Agencies (LDAs), suck as C ouncils for Voluntary Sen,ice and Rural Community Councils ill promoting an d supporting voluntary and community action in local communities in the UK. Based upon the first substantive study of these bodies since the late 1970 s the paper evaluates both their work and the extent of their support to lo cal communities. It then maps this work against the roles delineated for LD As in the Wolfenden Report, in 1978, and suggests a reformation of their ro les for the new millennium. It concludes by considering the import of these 'reformulated' LDAs for the community governance initiative of the present Labour government.