Sandwiches or Samosas? Reporting on the Research on Community Ownership and Management of Assets - March 2010

What has been happening on the research into the community ownership and management of assets since you last checked the calendar? While the snow was falling across most parts of the UK in December and January we distributed an on-line survey to a range of organisations engaged in owning or managing assets. This was done with the help of thirteen networks who distributed it to their members. We are still analysing the results but were pleased to find the coverage included Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland and touched many of the important organisations in the field.

In February the thaw had set in which gave the IVAR team and partners time to do some preliminary thinking on the different types of organisations in the field. We started considering - for example - the different kinds of assets, the purpose to which the assets are put and the variety of governance and accountability arrangements. This is work which will carry on throughout the project - informed by findings as they emerge.

By March, with the reappearance of the sun and the promise of light evenings, we organised four practitioner groups in Glasgow, Newport, London and Belfast. Over forty practitioners came from organisations that covered many parts of the asset owning or managing spectrum. People gave up time from their day jobs to share their experience and this was invaluable. At times the insights highlighted that the organisations we are looking at are even more complex than we had imagined. We were offered lunches that ranged from sandwiches in Scotland, fruit platter in Wales, samosas in England to a full Chinese noodle buffet in Belfast. The culinary allusion may prove a useful metaphor for the diversity of organisations engaged in the field.

The summer will be the time for us to start the core of the research: case studies conducted across the four countries. Meanwhile a NING (on-line discussion group) has been set up for those engaged in this work to continue robust debate, reflective comment and information sharing. We will get back to you with more news before the leaves hit your roofs and will be reporting officially at the end of January 2011.

Mike Aiken (mike@ivar.org.uk)