Conceptualisations and meanings of ‘community‘: The theory and operationalization of a contested concept
This Discussion Paper explores conceptualisations and meanings of ‘community‘ as a contested concept, focusing on how 21st-century researchers across the world have gone about capturing ‘community‘ using a variety of methods. Read more
Researching with Communities
This project seeks to determine the extent to which complexity theory might offer the most effective means for understanding how communities can be successfully engaged in and with academic research. Read more
Illuminating the Evolution of Community Participation
The review understands the “Big Society” as an example of policy translation (Freeman 2009). Through reflecting on what is ʺlost in translation”, the review identifies spaces for contestation and challenge. Read more
Towards Co-Production in Research with Communities
This review takes a cross-cutting perspective, aiming to advance the theory and practice of coproduction in research with communities. Read more
Conceptualising school-community relations in disadvantaged areas
Taking state-funded schools as an exemplar of public services, this study has explored the role of schools in relation to geographical communities which experience economic deprivation and associated disadvantages. Read more
Living Together: The Temporal Dimension of Civic Health
This report examines two prominent philosophical conceptions of the life of an individual – the ‘episodic’ and the ‘narrative’ – and considers what they can tell us about the lives of communities. Read more
A review of theories, concepts and interventions relating to community-level strengths and their impact on health and wellbeing
This paper draws on two reviews of the relationship between strong communities and health and well being. Read more
Keeping in Touch
This report is the first iteration of a series of questions that would support the development of a digital communications strategy for communities of interest or place. Read more
Resilient, mutual self-help in cities of growing diversity
This paper aims to stimulate debate in relation to thinking around resilience, mutual self-help and participation, both formal and informal, in an era of “super-diversity.”
An analysis of the capacity of volunteer sports coaches as community assets in the Big Society
In the contemporary context of “The Big Society‟, the aim of this review was to locate and analyse existing evidence to support expectations about the role of volunteer coaches, and community sport, in community social action. Read more
