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ESRC Research Cluster

Taking part? ESRC Capacity Building Research Cluster Carol Packham (Community Audit and Evaluation Centre MMU) Eve Davidson (Research Associate), Green Nyoni (Case Student). ESRC Research Cluster. The Taking part? Research Cluster Zoraida Mendiwelso-Bendek

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ESRC Research Cluster

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  1. Taking part? ESRC Capacity Building Research Cluster Carol Packham (Community Audit and Evaluation Centre MMU) Eve Davidson (Research Associate), Green Nyoni (Case Student) ESRC Research Cluster

  2. The Taking part? Research Cluster • Zoraida Mendiwelso-Bendek • The Taking Part? research cluster is building upon the research expertise of the universities and the national Take Part Network’s track record. Take Part’s approach brings together local, regional and national third sector organisations and higher education institutions, and is concerned with strengthening civil society and promoting active citizenship, equalities and community empowerment ESRC Research Cluster

  3. The Taking part? Research Cluster • The cluster is supporting: • - Postgraduate Case Students • - Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associates • - Placements • Smaller-scale research activities (vouchers) • Dissemination events ESRC Research Cluster

  4. Research Focus There is a risk that Third Sector organisations could end up reproducing the producer-dominated structures that they set out to challenge. The Cluster with Take Part partners, based in Take Part’s approach (participatory approaches to learning & research) is working around these research questions: - How Third Sector organisations can tackle existing inequalities more effectively rather than reproducing them? - How can they promote increasing social solidarity rather than increasing competition? - How can infrastructure organisations best support smaller Third Sector organisations,? - How can the long-term impacts upon individual volunteers and Third Sector organisations and groups be tracked more effectively? ESRC Research Cluster

  5. Community Development Social Action Take Part Research TAKE PART • as individual citizens • As collective individuals Voice Change Active Citizen • In people: personal development • In community organizations: focus and skills • In agencies: ‘learning to involve’ • In policy-makers: understanding what works • Volunteers • Community Leaders • Critical and engaged citizens • Participating (democratic) citizens

  6. breaking isolation • finding common causes • connecting groups and networks • social capital Social Networks Cooperative Social Action • realising value of collective action • strengthening collective action • working with other organisations • working across sectors • individual participation • social participation • Public participation • civic participation • from volunteers to activists Civil Society CIVIL SOCIETY Social Justice • raising awareness • understanding how power works • human rights • collective rights and power to act Equality & Diversity • awareness of rights and principles • ability to challenge discrimination • understanding tensions and changes • understanding official processes

  7. Third Sector/ University Partnerships • Sharing Learning from Community - University Partnership will contribute: • Learning to take part in civil society as active citizens • Strengthening Civil Society independent role ESRC Research Cluster

  8. Take Part Research Methodology/ Approach • - Participatory, throughout the research process • - Inclusive, enabling as many people as possible to have a voice • - Formative; feeding in information to and being informed by the partner organisations ESRC Research Cluster

  9. Research Methods • CNW Resilience and small TSOs • Partner identified focus • Partner and groups agree questions and methods • Survey Monkey plus group discussion • Data and Draft findings discussed at conference • Draft report discussed and disseminated, recommendations made and incorporated. ESRC Research Cluster

  10. Research Methods • MRSN:- Effective networking. • Agency/MC agree focus • Student located with agency • Ongoing feedback to agency, manager, MC, staff, • Comparative visits, findings fed back • Specific feedback sessions, e.g. To staff, MC • Detailed focus groups e.g. Young people ESRC Research Cluster

  11. Challenges • Truly participatory process is slow • Participation vs expectations of expertise • Partnership vs technical ownership • Unrealistic expectations, e.g. Time and role • Formative feedback can be taken as criticism • Challenging times; agencies vulnerable and stretched ESRC Research Cluster

  12. Opportunities • Evidenced based practice • Expectations of more ‘professional’ delivery • Ask the ‘right’ questions • More accurate reflection of what is required • Working partnerships established with ongoing outcomes e.g. Access to HE, community, information • Capacity Building for partner agencies, skills and knowledge ESRC Research Cluster

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