CSR

The Council of Social Responsibility (CSR) is an independent charity based in Portsmouth.

CSR runs a number of social programmes at mainly parish and diocesan level, although not exclusively in South East Hampshire, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. CSR seeks to encourage engagement, impact and leadership in the community by involving people of all faiths and none. In recent years, CSR has been changing its emphasis towards a more socially enterprising approach and this is producing substantial and exciting results.

WHAT WE DO

The charity works on the principles of positive disruption and sustainable solutions.

CSR seeks to help churches re-think their aims, vision and purpose by looking at innovative and inspirational ways of using indoor and outdoor spaces to re-engage with their local communities in meaningful and sustainable ways.

WHY CSR MATTERS

As our lives change and the world changes around us, so do the challenges we face. The church – always a cornerstone of support for communities, has to change too. CSR is about future-proofing what we do and the way we do it. Making sure that we’re relevant to people’s lives and delivering support, care and compassion in a way that remains responsive to need in an accessible and worthwhile way.

CSR is committed to moving the church to a place where it can re-engage, reposition and reinvigorate its offer.

HISTORY

The Council for Social Responsibility (CSR) is an independent charity registered since 1963, although its work can be traced back to at least 1920.

1920’s

• The Lambeth Conference calls for Councils to promote physical moral and social welfare to be formed
• Portsmouth Church Council for Preventive and Rescue Work established including involvement in adoption
• Portsmouth Diocese established

1930’s

• Name changed to Portsmouth Diocesan Council for Moral Welfare

1940’s

• Women and babies hostel opened in Southsea

1950’s

• The Grange Probation Hostel in Purbrook was purchased

1960’s

• Portsmouth Diocesan Council for Moral Welfare was registered as a charity

1970’s

• Renamed Portsmouth Diocesan Council for Social Work
• Community Care Groups were first establised with some central support
• All work as an adoption agency ceased and was handed over to Hampshire County Council

1980’s

• Renamed Portsmouth Diocesan Council for Social Responsibility
• A World Development Adviser was appointed
• Faith in the City was published

1990’s

• Probation Hostel in Purbrook was sold to the Probation Service

2000-2010

• Good Neighbours Support Service expanded, rebranded and relocated to Portsmouth
• Rapid Parish Development Programme (rpdp) was first piloted
• Work began with the Kaospilots School, Aarhus, Denmark, on creative leadership and entrepreneurship

2011 – 2016

• Presentation at York General Synod fringe event on rpdp approach, called ‘Trash the Church’
• rpdp spread to other dioceses and begins to grow
• CSR achieved financial sustainability
• Joint Venture Social Enterprise was set up, – a development and innovation company for churches, charities and community organisations
• Revised brand – The Rapid Development Programme (rdp) for parishes, deaneries and dioceses and launched with new website
• The collaboration between Kaospilots and CSR continues with a Portsmouth born initiative IROC ( Independent Republic of Creativity)
• A new Good Neighbours Network approach launched supported by a new website – Royal Event to celebrate 40 years of Good Neighbours!

2017

• CSR launches new website and looks forward to 2017 with an updated rdp offer and exciting parish led engagement projects in the pipeline.

CSR IS:

• achieving financial sustainability
• scaling its portfolio of socially enterprising activities
• facilitating asset-based development opportunities
• promoting creative campaigning on social issues

All of CSR’s activities are focussed on delivering these aims and our innovative work is flourishing. For more information on the work of CSR continue to explore this site www.www.csrnet.org.uk.