Project Partners
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PROJECT CO-ORDINATING PARTNER 1:
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE, MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY, UK:
SHORT NAME: ISSR.
The Institute of Social Science Research, Middlesex University:
The research activity of the Institute of Social Science Research (ISSR) in the School of Social Science at Middlesex University is recognised to be of national and international standing (for example the Social Policy discipline, which includes Criminology, was awarded a grade 4 in the 1996 HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise). Key specialist areas of research include: sociology of crime and domestic violence; prostitution; prison and prisoners-, the needs and experiences of refugees; studies in health policy and provision; the new managerialism and the changing welfare state; public sector management; equal pay and equal opportunities; studies in the field of drugs policy and practice, drugs as organised crime and explanations of addiction; and life in cities, urban problems and policy, among many others. These themes cross-cut particular disciplines and an interdisciplinary approach, particularly with regard to studies of environmental issues, gender, race and ethnicity, is a particular feature of the work.SHORT CV: Dr. Mel Evans:
Research Fellow in the Social Policy Research Centre of the Institute for Social Science Research. An urban social geographer with degrees from the London School of Economics and Queen Mary College, his field of specialism is community regeneration, community enterprise and community economic development. Has over 15 years development experience in social and community enterprise. Action Research Officer for Community Economy Ltd in European Funded innovative research programme on community enterprise in England 1986-89. A voluntary director of Community Economy Ltd . Also involved in the European Network for Self Help Economies and Local Development (see Partner 3). Publications include: "Neighbourhood Images in East London: Social Capital and Social Networks on Two East London Estates" (with V.Cattell) (York Publishing Services, 1999). "Das Modell einer Gemeinwesenokonomie" in "Lokale Okonomie: Beschaftigungs- und Strukturpolitik in Krisenregionen".(GSFP, Berlin, 1994). "Owning Our ,Own: Community Enterprise on Housing Estates", (Community Economy Ltd, London, I 991).SHORT CV: Dr. Stephen Syrrett:
Principal Lecturer in Geography at the School of Social Science, Middlesex University, he has degrees in economic geography from University of Durham and University of Exeter. Also a member of Middlesex University's Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research. His recent publications include: 'Confronting Globalisation' in Cademos de Geografia, No. 1 , 1998. 'The Politics of Partnership: the role of social partners in local economic development' in European Urban and Regional Studies, Vol.4, No.2, 1997. 'Cavaco Silva, the European Union and regional inequality: regional development policy in Portugal, 1985-95' in International Journal of Iberian Studies 10(2), 1997. Local Development (Avebury, Aldershot, 1995). "Culture and community economic initiatives: the case of Portugal" in World Futures, Vol.31, 1992.SHORT CV: Dr. Gregory Andrusz:
Reader in Sociology, Middlesex University and Head of the Kazakhstan /UK Centre at the University. An Urban Sociologist, Dr. Andrusz has recently published "The Co-operative Alternative in Europe.- The Case of Housing" (Ashgate, Aldershot, 1999). PARTNER 2:
SHORT NAME: CBS NETWORK. CBS Network, is a registered charity and democratically controlled membership Organisation, originally established by Community Business Scotland, which exists to: provide a community enterprise information service for its members, provide support services for its members, promote a greater understanding of the value of community enterprise and seeking a greater commitment to it. at all levels in society. The Network also carries out research to further both theoretical and practical understanding of what makes community and social enterprise work, and undertakes projects in its own right and in partnership with others to further all its other objectives. CBS Network provides regular mailings to members, which includes directories, information sheets, and news of events. CBS Network also runs a Community Enterprise Telephone Helpline, regular seminars, conferences and training and consultancy (through its subsidiary Community Economic Development Ltd)and is also a co-owner of 'New Sector': The Magazine of Co-operative and Community Enterprise. CBS Network is a partner in the European Network for Economic Self-Help and Local Development (see partner 3) and provides the European office for the Commonwealth Association for Local Action and Economic Development (COMMACT). It has also worked with a range of European partners on major transnational action and research projects and provides a social accounting and social audit service for the community sector.
SHORT CV: John Pearce:
Has worked within the community business sector in Scotland for over 20 years, and is Company Secretary of Community Business Scotland and a Director of CBS Network. He is a leading exponent in the field of social audits and is currently developing social audit programmes in New Zealand, Liverpool and Scotland. He has also written two major works on the subject - "The Social Audit Workbook" and "Measuring Social Wealth" (both New Economics Foundation, 1996). He also wrote "At the Heart of the Community Economy. Community Enterprise in a Changing World" (Gulbenkian Foundation, 1993). He has collaborated (on behalf of CBS Network) with the European Network for Self-Help Economics and Local Development and with the Industrial Common Ownership Movement on previous European transnational action/research programmes within the social economy. He also manages a community enterprise initiative in Kerala, South India for CBS Network.SHORT CV: Alan Kay:
A Director of CBS Network and one of the core team of Network workers. He is involved in developing the Scottish Social Audit Programme for community organisations and works in association with New Economics Foundation. He manages the involvement of CBS Network in the CEPCESA transnational programme with partners in Sweden and Spain (see Partners 4 and 5). Formerly Field Worker for VSO in Indonesia and extensive experience of working overseas and conducting evaluations in the field. Previously worked for Community Enterprise Lothian Limited.PARTNER 3:
INTERDISZIPLINARE FORSCHUNG-GRUPPE LOKALE OKONOMIE, GERMANY:
SHORT NAME: TECHNET The Technologie-Netzwerk is engaged by PAULA in the development of employment, particularly through the establishment of social enterprises. TechNet also established a wide range of contacts and co-operation with East and West German projects, agencies, public bodies and businesses working in these fields. Since 1993 TechNet has also run the central co-ordination office of the European Network for Economic Self-Help and Local Development which was founded largely on its initiative. TechNet is currently setting up a European Institute for Economic Self-Help and Local Development in Berlin.
The Interdisciplinary Research Group (IFG)'Local Economy' which has been working out of the Technische Universitat Berlin (TUB) since 1988, is an interdisciplinary research group which at present is composed of five professors and five research assistants from a wide range of technical / scientific and social science disciplines. The main focus of the project was initially the establishment of the 'local economy' as an area of research with the intention of making a comparative evaluation of the origins, developmental paths and practical approaches of local economic strategies in Western Europe. Currently, research efforts are concentrated on the roles of the private, public and, in particular, the community/voluntary sector in restructuring local economies, as well as on the function which local inter-sectoral partnerships have in this complex. Relevant transnational research projects include, among others, 'The Role of Local Partnerships in Promoting Social Cohesion', 'Community Economic Development and Social Enterprises', 'Key Values, Concepts and Structures of the Social Economy in Western Europe' and 'Employment Potential of Social Enterprises in Six EU Member States'. In addition, the research activity is branching out to take in Eastern Europe.
The central fields of competence of the IRG lie in research, development and consultancy services for local economic activities, their operating environment and their infrastructure. This includes all relevant areas of policy: economic development, technology, social services, labour market and employment, etc. Until 1992, the,IRG received total funding from the Technische Universitat as an interdisciplinary research project. Since then however, the IRG has become financially independent, seeking funding from external bodies, particularly EU sources.
SHORT CV: Dr. Karl Birkholzer:
Social Scientist and member of the scientific staff of the Technische Universitat, (Institute for Vocational Training, University Education and Further Training Research). Since 1985 Head of the Interdisciplinary Research Group (IFG) on Local Economy at the same university. Chairperson of the European Network for Economic Self-Help and Local Development. Has been involved in numerous transnational projects and his publications include Key Values and Structures of Social Enterprises in Western Europe: Concepts and Principles for a New Economy, Berlin: Technologie-Netzwerk Berlin e.V. (1997) and The Contribution of Social Enterprises to Community Economic Development in Six European Countries.- Reports from Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and Spain. Berlin: Technolgie-Netzwerk Berlin e.V. (1998).SHORT CV-. Dr. Gunther Lorenz:
Degrees in the teaching of commerce and in economics. Since 1986 a member of the IFG on Local Economy at the Technische Universitat Berlin. Since 1992 Project Co-ordinator for research and development with the European Network for Eonomic Self-Help and Local Development. Numerous transnational projects and publications on local economic strategies, social economy and third sector, social enterprise and alternative financing, including, as a co-author with Karl Birkholzer, those listed above.PARTNER 4:
SHORT NAME: NATVERKET
The Network for Co-operative and Social Enterprises in the County of Vasterbotten was founded / re-organised in 1997. 'Natverket' receives financial support from the state, the county council, the municipalities, established and new co-ops in the region, and the county administration board. The main task of Natverket is to advise groups willing to start up their own co-operative or community business / activities to maintain and develop viable, living rural areas and create jobs for disadvantaged groups in society. In addition to the manager and the administrative staff their are three co-operative advisors working in three different villages / towns of Vasterbotten. Besides that there are ten persons working with successful co-operative development projects.Natverket is the coordinating partner for the European project 'Community Economic Profiling, Community Enterprise and Social Auditing'(CEPCESA), within the Third System and Employment programme. Natverket was also a partner in 'The Employment Potential of Social Enterprises in Six European Member States' led by the 'European Network for Economic Self-Help and Local Development' based in Berlin (see Partner 3). Also a partner in Joint Purchasing in the Social Economy (JPSE) led by SEK - Social Economy Consortium Limited in UK.
Short CV: Ulf Wiberg:
Professor of Economic Geography, Umea University, Sweden and Director of the Centre for Regional Science (CERUM) at Umea University. His published work (in English) includes: "Guidelines for Success in the Countryside" in North, Vol. 8, No. 10, (1 997), "How May Institutional Regionalisation Promote Regional Development?" in J.A. Delienbrant and U.Wiberg, Europe-Arctic Curtains, CERUM, Northern Studies. Umea, (1997), "Understanding Local, Thinking Global - a challenge for geographical research on marginal regions: View from the Nordic Countries" in Estela Furlani de Civit, M., Pedone, C., and Dario Soria, N. (eds) Development Issues in Marginal Regions //: Policies and Strategies. International Geographical Union, Study Group on Development in Marginal Regions. Proceedings. Facultad de Filosofia y Letras de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Ex-Libris Edictorial e Imprenta, Mendoza, Argentina, pp. XI.-I,- Lill. (1996) (Co-author Heikki Jussila).Short CV: Bosse Olsson.
Graduate of School of Social Studies at Mid-Sweden University in Ostersund. Manager and Co-operative Adviser since 1996 of Natverket in the County of Vasterbotten. Previously (1 986-96) Co-operative Advisor at the Co-operative Development Agency in the county of Jamtland, with main responsibility for Community co-operatives and training. Involved in a range of European Projects (including B3, JPSE and CEPCESA) with extensive knowledge of Project Management and Transnational Projects and EU programmes.PARTNER 5:
SHORT-NAME: G.E.S The Gabinet d'Estudis Socials (GES) is a co-operative that was created twelve years ago. Its staff comprises ten professionals who apply the tools provided by sociology, economy, demography, law and statistics to deal mostly with fields such as labour and social policy whilst paying particular attention to poverty and social exclusion. It is equipped with computing and documentary systems and regularly updated data bases in order to accomplish its functions which cover research, training, advice, consultation, evaluation and publications.
GES is in permanent touch with both social economy and voluntary organisations across Europe, with which it exchanges information and collaborates in the preparation of seminars, meetings etc. For instance, C.N.E.1, which represents French integration enterprises, C.G.M, representing Italian social co-operatives, B.A.G, which connects German integration and training enterprises and organisations, as well as the E.P.N which gathers those Organisation combating poverty and exclusion at the Community level.
G.E.S has regularly taken part in a number of Community programmes where evaluation, research , monitoring and support for measures and projects connect. It was, for instance, one of the correspondents of ERGO 1 and as in charge of the evaluation of 4 of its projects. GES was also a member of the Spanish Research and Development Unit for Poverty 3 and took an active part in all its activities both on national and European scale. GES was also commissioned by the European Social Fund to undertake an evaluation of Spanish policies against long-term unemployment. In addition, one of GES members stayed in London for three months to collaborate with the Tavistock Institute in the evaluation of the European Programme Helios 11 and back in Spain carried out a number of interviews for the same purpose. At present GES retains a counselling relationship with experts from the Tavistock Institute in subjects related to evaluation and will be carrying out a transnational project in the framework of the Leonardo programme for two years.
At present GES is participating in four European research / action projects in the framework of the 'Third System and Employment' programme, as well as in European research on 'Social Public Service: Quality of Working Life and Quality of Service' promoted by the European Foundation for the Development of Living and Working Conditions.
