This discussion paper supports understanding of the key elements and options for an emerging participatory research agenda to support, inform and critically consider the development of the community economy in Scotland, and more widely.

James Henderson, Research Associate with What Works Scotland, considers the final reflective learning report from the Aberdeenshire case site – At the frontier of collaborative and participatory governance – which offers eight discussions that could be used to inform ongoing dialogue with a public service partnership.

Guest blogger Pauline Hinchion, Director of Scottish Communities Finance, as part of What Works Scotland community sector inquiry work, returns to the Christie Commission’s report to consider the fundamental challenge of empowering low income communities and the potential for asset-based approaches to work alongside public services.

Guest blogger Ian Cooke, Director of the Development Trust Association Scotland analyses the current context for community place-making and calls for a commitment to investing in the significant contribution anchors can make to building community infrastructure. 

James Henderson, Research Associate with What Works Scotland, reflects on the potential for further shared inquiry work on the community sector role in public service reform and social change.

Guest blogger Chris Littlejohn, Deputy Director of Public Health with NHS Grampian, responds to At the frontier of Collaborative and Participatory Governance: Eight Discussions to support putting Christie into action, a report by What Works Scotland and Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership which reflects on the learning from their collaborative work. 

Blog post by Aidan Pia, Director of Senscot (Social Entrepreneurs Network Scotland) considering the potential of community social enterprise to innovate, lead and contribute in complex ways to the Christie Commission agenda of partnership, participation and prevention.

The community sector, including community anchors, can have a key role to play in the development of public service reform in Scotland – partnering, leading and challenging. Here we outline why we think the community sector has that potential and prompt further reflections from others as to what that means in actual practice.

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.

What Works Scotland PhD candidate Sarah Ward discusses the benefits of using the capabilities framework to identify clear objectives for asset-based work to address disadvantage.