News

Action Research

We are currently working on three action research projects:

A real time evaluation of The Community Alliance
A study on the experience and impact of co-location for bassac and DTA
A study on models of collaboration for four children's charities

Capacity Building

We are currently finalising arrangements for three new projects:

The development of national roll-out of the pilot Partnership Improvement Programme with the I&DeA, focusing on cross-sector partnership working between local authorities and third sector organisations
The development of a three year 'Capacity Building the Capacity Builders' programme in London, in partnership with the Community Alliance and other community anchor organisations
A pilot capacity building project with organisations funded by The Tudor Trust

Birkbeck - IVAR Partnership

The partnership between Birkbeck and IVAR was launched in January with an inaugural seminar series, focusing on 'Community Organisations: Research, Policy and Practice'.

Relationships between government and the third sector at the local level

Wednesday 24th January 2007, 6pm-8pm at the Methodist International Centre, 81-103 Euston Street, London NW1 2EZ

Presentations:
Dr Mike Aiken Ph.D. Visiting Research Fellow, Open University and Research Associate, IVAR: ‘Central Targets or Local Planning?: p>Changing Dynamics for Statutory and Voluntary Organisations Collaborating at the Local Level’

Ben Cairns, Director, IVAR and the Aston Centre for Voluntary Action Research and Visiting Research Fellow, Birkbeck, University of London: ‘Bridge over Troubled Water? Collaboration to Improve Collaboration across the Nonprofit/Government Sectoral Divide’

New perspectives on Citizenship and Neighbourhoods

Thursday 22nd February 2007, 5.30-8.00pm at Goodenough College, Churchill Room, London House, Mecklenburgh Square, London, WC1N 2AB

Presentations:

Professor Marjorie Mayo, Professor in Community Development, Goldsmiths, University of London: ‘Active Learning for Active Citizenship’

Professor Marilyn Taylor, Professor of Urban Governance and Regeneration, University of the West of England: ‘Changing Neighbourhoods: Learning from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Neighbourhood Programme’

Faith: Connecting or Dividing Communities?

Wednesday 9th May 2007, 6-8.30pm at Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street

Presentations:

Dr Rob Furbey, Principal Lecturer in Urban Sociology, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University

Richard Farnell, Professor of Neighbourhood Regeneration, Coventry University

4th Seminar

Thursday 7th June 2007, 6-8.30pm at Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street

Further details to be confirmed

Conferences

Ben Cairns was one of the keynote speakers at the Local Government Association Conference on 'Building Social Capital with the third sector', Thursday October 19th. Ben was talking about 'Building social capital through partnerships'.

Ben's presentation can be downloaded here.

Last updated: 5th March 2007