Announced today, a new £10m Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4) will bring together partners from research, community, policy and civil society to develop and scale up successful community leadership approaches.
Led by Sheffield Hallam University, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and delivered with The Young Foundation and other partners, C4 will find and share the most effective community action strategies, providing invaluable insights for both local and national policymaking, to help create equal opportunities wherever people live.
Community and social capital
Examining the diverse landscape of community activities – analysing what works, and what doesn’t – the goal of C4 is to establish robust evidence and infrastructure, enabling successful approaches to be scaled up and replicated.
C4 research will focus on key areas, including:
- Community: where people live and their connections with their neighbours
- Relationships: identifying which social interactions are most meaningful in tackling poverty, isolation and mental health
- Social Capital: looking at the benefits derived from networks and relationships
‘A more connected and resilient society’
Sarah Pearson, Professor of Social Research in the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University, said:
Connected communities are defined as those with high levels of social bonds and cohesion, where people have good relationships, a sense of pride and belonging, and the ability to cooperate within and between places to address challenges and seize opportunities.
The Centre represents a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between academic research and community action. By working closely with communities and decision-makers, we aim to create a more connected and resilient society.”
‘A growing appetite for collaboration’
Celebrating The Young Foundation’s role as Innovation and Impact Hub for the new C4 Centre, our Chief Executive Helen Goulden said:
There is a large and growing appetite and aspiration for cross-sector collaboration to support communities, particularly those communities experiencing the sharpest end of disadvantage. If we are to realise that ambition, it requires us to innovate, work differently, and be honest and unrelenting in the pursuit for genuine change and impact as a result.
The Young Foundation has the energy and experience to contribute to and lead this effort through the Centre, and we are delighted to be working with Sheffield Hallam University and the wider partnership in the service of this important mission.”
This ambitious project is a collaboration between regional and national partners – Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface, Darnall Wellbeing, Local Trust, London Metropolitan University, Queen’s University Belfast, The Brixton Project, University of Stirling, Black Mountains College, as well as The Young Foundation and Sheffield Hallam University.
Community leadership Community needs & priorities Innovation and Investment Local economies Systems change Posted on: 10 December 2024