Guest bloggers James Rees, Carol Jacklin-Jarvis and Vita Terry from the Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership examine the challenges and opportunities offered in June 2018 by adopting collective leadership practices in third and voluntary sector organisations.

How do we ensure that diversity flourishes in collaborations and partnerships? What Works Scotland co-director Ken Gibb reflects on the argument of applied economist Tim Hartford in his January 2017 book, Messy, on creativity and resilience.

Exploration of a March 2018 report generated by the work of What Works Scotland, Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership and partners into emerging multi-layered preventative partnership working in the Aberdeenshire area. 

Dr Hayley Bennett and Dr Richard Brunner share insights on the role of professional researchers in collaborative, participatory and action research approaches, and put forward recommendations for those thinking about initiating CAR processes.

Claire Bynner, Oliver Escobar and Wendy Faulkner describe a What Works Scotland project to create a training course that would develop and cascade skills in facilitative leadership.

Alistair Stoddart of The Democratic Society, shares some initial thoughts in March 2015 from the Better Place forum, a gathering of community development workers, academics, campaigners, public service managers, and local and national senior officials to look at ways to allow greater citizen involvement in public service decisions and delivery.

Case study that examines how the approach and learning from a successful violence and anti-social behaviour intervention has spread to two other communities. The report shows how the distinct characteristics of the Operation Modulus approach support the principles and practice of public service reform, more widely and in relation to other issues.

This workshop is focused deepening our understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by refugees who have resettled in Scotland. It will share the findings from two new What Works Scotland research reports which look at how public services are responding to meeting the needs of refugees and asylum seekers.

Report, summary and policy briefing which explores the developing role of key independent community sector organisations known as community anchors. Using six exemplars, it identifies characteristics of a community anchor organisations and their roles in engaging with, leading and challenging public service reform, local democracy, community resilience and social change.

Report and executive summary of the findings from the first survey of community planning officials (managers and officers) conducted in Scotland. It sheds light on the composition of this significant group of local public servants, their role, the work they undertake and the implications for community planning partnerships and community engagement.