Measuring the Maturity of Asset-Based Community Development: Findings and Implications Applied in a Community Walking Programme
Abstract
Background: Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) mobilises the strengths of individuals, associations, institutions, and shared spaces to enhance community capacity. Empirical evidence quantifying ABCD maturity remains limited. This study introduces and applies the ABCD Maturity Index to examine baseline patterns, subgroup differences, and changes during participation in Beat the Street, a community-wide, gamified physical activity programme.
Methods: A matched-pairs pre–post design was used with adult participants (≥18 years) across six UK locations (March–June 2024). The ABCD Maturity Index measures six domains representing core ABCD foundations: Individuals, Associations, Institutions, Place-based assets, Connections, and Stories. Reliability and construct validity were evaluated using internal consistency and subgroup comparisons. McNemar’s test assessed paired change in dichotomised agreement scores.
Results: Internal consistency was good (Cronbach’s α = 0.80–0.83). At baseline (n = 5,734), highest agreement was for Place-based assets (76.3%) and lowest for Stories (29.4%). ABCD maturity was lower among participants from more deprived areas, with disabilities, or long-term conditions. Matched-pair analysis (n = 1,503) showed a mean increase of 5.4 percentage points (p < 0.05), with largest gains in Stories (+7.8 pp) and Institutions (+7.5 pp).
Conclusion: The ABCD Maturity Index provides a reliable and valid framework for assessing community capacity and tracking change. Its application revealed both structural inequalities and the potential for inclusive, place-based interventions to strengthen ABCD maturity, particularly among groups starting from lower baselines.
Keywords: Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), community capacity, social capital, place-based intervention
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