By Aaron Barbour
“In these uncertain financial times will Community Anchors really be ‘fit for purpose’?” This was the title of a conference at the Tab Centre in Shoreditch, last week which was co-hosted by the Bromley-by-Bow Centre, Community Links, Toynbee Hall, and the Centre of Institutional Studies at the University of East London. It was an intimate affair focusing on current issues surrounding the sustainability and future of Community Anchors.
The opening plenary set out the challenges faced by Community Anchors.
There followed three workshops repeated so that everyone could attend and contribute, these were:
Workshop 1: How do we know that Community Anchors are viable institutions? This workshop looked at the theme of how we measure our social impact. Milla Gregor, Toynbee Hall and Lucy Heady, New Philanthropy Capital, discussed how and why they have developed their social impact measurement.
- Download workshop papers:
Milla Gregor, Toynbee Hall.
Lucy Heady New Philanthropy Capital.
Milla challenged us to come together and agree a set of indicators for Community Anchors to use. Get in touch with her if you’d like to get involved: Milla.Gregor@toynbeehall.org.uk
Workshop 2: How can Community Anchors become sustainable institutions? Stephen Thake, London Metropolitan University, and Max Weaver, Community Links presented this workshop discussing the financial sustainability of Community Anchors in the current financial crisis.
- Download workshop papers:
Stephen Thake, London Metropolitan University
Max Weaver, Community Links
“We’re in trouble” were Stephen’s opening remarks. Funding is becoming increasingly tight with an end of national area based grants, a move towards sub-regional, mega contracts and commissioning services; added to this is the long shadow of the recession that will be cast over the next funding cycle 2011-14 (at least). However it’s not all doom and gloom. There is still plenty that can be done to argue our position, possibly develop a Community Anchors manifesto, and take the campaign for Community Anchors to a local, regional and national level.
Workshop 3: How can Community Anchors contribute to the overall social improvement and well-being of a locality? Christopher Durkin, University of Northampton and Rob Trimble, Bromley-by-Bow Centre, looked at how the issues of partnership, competition, and local relationships with community groups can ensure Community Anchors have a greater impact than they might otherwise have had.
- Download workshop papers:
Christopher Durkin, University of Northampton
Ben Hughes, bassac, ended by summing up the key points, which for him were:
- Emphasise the strengths of the holistic approach taken by Community Anchors, whilst recognising that it’s hard to do
- Communicate, articulate and prove the benefits of Community Anchors
- Be fleet-of-foot and look at the opportunities to be had from a (possible? doh!) change of government and the recession.
