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Empowerment Research Seminar Series
Empowerment Research dissemination seminars
January – June 2010
Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Community Development Foundation (CDF) ran a series of four Empowerment Research dissemination seminars from January to June 2010. The seminars were targeted at policy, research and practice colleagues, including those working in central and local government, in the voluntary and community sector and those who advise local authorities.
Each seminar focused on highlighting evidence emerging on the latest empowerment research commissioned by CLG, CDF and others.
1. Participatory Budgeting – Friday 29th January 2010
In November 2008, the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) commissioned SQW Consulting, supported by Cambridge Economic Associates and GFA Consulting to undertake an evaluation of Participatory Budgeting (PB) in England. This was the first major national evaluation of PB in England. It is examined the process, outcomes, costs and benefits, and wider impacts of PB. It also gathered evidence on making the business case for PB and provided good practice and guidance for practitioners.
This seminar was chaired by Charles Woodd, CLG and included a presentation on the key findings from the national evaluation from SQW Consulting and an interactive Q&A session.
For more information on PB visit:
http://www.participatorybudgeting.org.uk/
2. National Empowerment Partnership – Wednesday 17th February 2010
The National Empowerment Partnership was a DCLG funded and CDF managed programme that was committed to supporting and improving empowerment activities across England. This seminar included a presentation of findings from the first two years of NEP, and practice and policy lessons.
The research findings were presented by Professor Marilyn Taylor (University of the West of England) and Gordon McCullough (Institute for Voluntary Action Research). Hannah Peaker of London's Regional Empowerment Partnership looked at the impact of the partnership, while Tom Neumark, CDF, and Charles Woodd, DCLG set out the policy context and lessons learnt for NEP. It concluded with an interactive Q&A session, chaired by Alison Seabrooke, Chief Executive of CDF.
For more information on NEP please visit: http://www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/nep
3. Take Part Programme – Wednesday 14th July 2010
This seminar involved a presentation of emerging findings from the national evaluation of the Take Part programme. In order for more people to be able to participate in local decision-making, they need to have a better understanding of how local services are managed and local democracy operates. Some people also need support and encouragement to have the confidence to speak up and get involved, or to overcome barriers that they face. The Take Part programme worked with partners in 18 pathfinder areas, two in each region, to show how learning and information could build skills, knowledge and confidence for active citizenship, as well as running community leadership programmes that offered tailored support into civic activisim and/or lay governance roles.
A presentation of emerging findings from the national evaluation of Take Part kickstarted the session, followed by a presentation on the impact of the programme by a local Pathfinder. Key learnings in terms of the empowerment agenda were set out by Professor Marjorie Mayo, Reader in Community Development at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and ESRC Taking Part cluster lead, and policy lessons from Thomas Neumark, CDF Policy Officer and Anne-Marie Dean, Local Democratic Renewal Officer, DCLG. The session concluded with a Q&A session. The session will be chaired by Alison Seabrooke, CDF Chief Executive.
4. Community Finance / Asset Transfer – Tuesday 20th July 2010
In April 2009, SQW Consulting was appointed by the Development Trusts Association (DTA), to evaluate the work and impact of the Asset Transfer Unit (ATU) over their first two years of operation. The ATU is operated by the DTA in partnership with DCLG and other stakeholders, and aims to promote the transfer of land and buildings from the public sector to community ownership and management. The evaluation involved a national baseline survey of local authorities across England, case studies, action learning, regular reports and capacity building of the ATU team.
This seminar was chaired by Charles Woodd, DCLG and included a presentation on the key findings from the first year of the national evaluation from Luke Delahunty of SQW Consulting and an interactive Q&A session.