Research Bulletin 5

I finally have a (very rough) first draft of the entire research dissertation which feels good. Just a matter of refining things now (as if that were easy)!

Creating a scene, making a game...

Yesterday, I attended the annual Central Scotland Green Network Forum which for this year was held at the Reed Building at the Glasgow School of Art. 

A highlight of the exhibition was the link to this year's design degree show many of the exhibits of which were creative 'design' (as in product design) approaches to engagement. 

Particularly exciting were the symbolic approach through the 'Creatures of Govanhill and the 'Our Land' game. Considering the strengths and weaknesses of the charrette approach, it is vital to have something visual that the community can coalesce around. The specifically local nature of these two solutions is also of interest; this being one of the strengths of the participatory action approach where practitioners set up shop within and taylor practice specifically to the needs of a certain community. 

I hope to be able to work with many creative people like exhibitors Lizzie and Eloise in the forthcoming PhD!  

Research Bulletin 4

One of the most interesting things to come out of my research in both of the PAS charrettes I attended recently was the new locality planning approach. This is a duty through the 2015 Community Empowerment Act on Community Planning Partnership to deliver a plan designed to reduce inequalities between their most deprived areas. 

The locality planing approach is very new; for a good introduction check out the latest guidance from SURF  : more detail is still forthcoming from the Scottish Government! However, the research has highlighted the intriguing view that the comprehensiveness of the planning approach represents a return to the spirit of the 'regeneration' ethos of the past twenty or thirty years; at least in terms of creating engagement...but will the money for implementing change be forthcoming too? 

Research Bulletin 3

Yesterday I was undertaking fieldwork at the PAS Fauldhouse Focus event in West Lothian. Some interesting proposals have come out of the engagement and their was a real sense the events created a brand and sense of interest to move forward with. Another interesting feature was a 'sign up hub' which allowed participants to register for a number of existing and proposed voluntary groups in the area. A nice way to hopefully gain some social capital....

Research Bulletin 2

This morning I was able to create a (very rough, very tentative) first draft of the third sector research. Some interesting key themes are emerging although they will need a lot of revision and will likely be added to substantially;

• Third sector organisations, being neither public nor private are uniquely placed to establish a rapport with communities. However, third sector organisations need to be adequately supported in order to bring members of the community to an engagement setting. 

• The research data suggest the third sector approach is successful in  bringing together these actors and setting an agenda for future development. 

• Regardless of who is leading planning engagement, it is clear that best practice requires developed ‘soft skills’ or social acumen on the part of the facilitation staff.  

II would hope that the coming month would add to the interview component of the

rresearch further and allow me to provide a lot more detail in time!