The power of networks, in anchoring community wealth building, from the Midlands and North Ayrshire
Community wealth building - one of a range of fourth-sector community economic models explored on this site - is best illustrated by practical examples.
And on recommendation from a friend of A/UK, Roxy Piper, here’s a CLES Zoom seminar with three rich testimonials. The specific pull (in Roxy’s words) is “the power of networks in community wealth building from CLES. Brilliant set of case studies”.
Indeed they are, from Birmingham, Sandwell and North Ayrshire. We’ve put the timings in the video for each of the speakers below, and some direct links to their work.
5.55: Conrad Parke - coordinator of the Birmingham Anchor Institution Network,
16.41: Alison Knight, executive director of Neighbohoods at Sandwell Council, and Nicki Denston
28.32: Julie McLachlan, senior manager in economic policy from North Ayrshire Council, on their Community Wealth Building Strategy [see A/UK blog on this]
38.50 Zoom Q&A
CLES have also brought out a complementary piece of research, Growing anchor networks in place: a how-to guide, intro below:
The Covid-19 pandemic has destabilised our present and will profoundly affect our social, economic and political future. As we begin to emerge from the initial stages of the crisis, we need to use the power of anchor institutions to help with the economic recovery.
This guide explains the conditions that are required for networks of anchor intuitions to flourish and draws upon our learning from the Birmingham Anchor Network.
Here we provide a practical illustration as to how groups of anchors can adopt progressive strategies in relation to procurement, employment, as well as land and property assets to assist in rescuing, recovering and reforming local economies in the wake of Covid-19.