New Community Research Partnership Announced

Published by Dawn Prentice for Dawn Prentice Communications in Communities and also in Education, Environment, Health, Housing

The Centre for Community Research (CfCR) and research consultants M-E-L Research Limited have announced a new partnership to support independent third sector research and development needs. CfCR is a new Midlands-based research and learning venture aiming to provide fresh perspectives on the needs, development and aspirations of communities, and to support the rapidly evolving role of the third sector, including community-based housing organisations. M-E-L Research, an established research and consultancy practice based on Birmingham’s Aston Science Park, has teamed up with the not-for-profit CfCR, to combine unparalleled knowledge and bring together technical excellence and business focus and social purpose and enterprise.

CfCR Chair Kevin Gulliver said:

‘Traditionally, third sector and social housing research and consultancy services have been provided either by commercial consultancies or academic institutions. By pooling our expertise we believe we have fashioned a distinctive collaborative venture. Exploring what identity, neighbourhood and citizenship mean in the 21^st Century, our partnership will promote the merits of evidence-based research, information analysis and policy development in housing, voluntary and community settings. We need to ensure reliable research evidence is what will underpin the success or otherwise of the ‘Big Society’’

M-E-L Research Chief Executive Dr. Bob Pocock said:

‘Collaboration with like-minded partners has been a key success factor in M-E-L Research’s 25 year history, a milestone which we recently celebrated. The voluntary, community and social housing sectors are increasingly vital parts of a healthy and cohesive society. Yet this greater focus needs to be under-pinned by both technically robust research and the social values that define the voluntary and community sectors. As a commercial research consultancy, we are delighted to be helping support a pioneering social enterprise partner like CfCR. Together M-E-L Research and CfCR can produce much sharper insights and impactful results than either can generate alone.’