Community Assets seminar series

About the event

Exploring the relevance and importance of community ownership and management of assets for society today.

The JRF are bringing people together from across the public, voluntary and community and private sectors to encourage debate around the relevance of community control of assets for society today. We want to explore a range of questions for policy and practice which relate to community assets. This series of six free seminars will:

• explore a range of topics pertinent to society today from community resilience to climate change, to the community right to buy;
• discuss challenging questions, identify and share learning and positive practice from around the UK; and
• identify new or emerging issues that may need policy or practice development to support change and progress.

The events

Register your interest to attend an event by emailing Jo Pickles. Please note that places are limited.

Community and mutual ownership - 8 July 2010

Exploring different historic and contemporary approaches to inform policy thinking on the role and significance of community and mutual ownership of assets for society today. You can:

• download and listen to MP3's of the last event (above)
• download a copy of the slides used (Powerpoint, 3.3MB), or
• Read a report of the event (PDF, 210KB)

Community right to buy - 28 October 2010

Exploring lessons from Scotland's land reform agenda and introduction of the community right to buy (CRTB), considering how CRTB could be applied in future policy development in other parts of the UK. Papers for this event:

• Community right to buy (Calum MacLeod and Tim Braunholtz-Speight)
• Providing opportunities for rural communities in Scotland (Heather Holmes)
• Download the slides from this event (17MB, Powerpoint)
• Read a report of the event (PDF, 230KB)

Community resilience to climate change - 19 November 2010

Examining how opportunities for communities to take control of assets, including energy facilities and land, could support resilience to climate change. Papers for the event:

• The role of community energy schemes in supporting community resilience (Nicholas Gubbins)
• At the edge: community ownership, climate change and energy in Scotland (Joseph Murphy)
• Read a report of the event (PDF, 210KB)

Community infrastructure in new residential developments - 15 February 2011

Considering how community infrastructure (including assets and social resources) can effectively be established in areas of new housing to encourage the development of sustainable communities and neighbourhoods.

• Read the paper for this event - 'Community infrastructure in new residential developments' (Marilyn Taylor)
• Download the slides from this event (Powerpoint file, 11MB)
• Read the report of the event (PDF, 200KB)

Finance and business models for community organisations - 4 May 2011

A practical session examining new and emerging approaches needed for local community organisations to work effectively and develop sustainable business and financial models.

• Read the paper for this event - 'Finance and business models for supporting community asset ownership and control' (Tim Thorlby)
• Download the slides from this event (Powerpoint, 8MB)
• Read the report for this event - 'Social Finance: opportunities and risks' (Julian Dobson)

The future for community assets - 30 June 2011

Examining the costs, benefits and outcomes (including critical success factors) associated with local community ownership and management of assets, and identifying implications for future policy and practice linked to the transfer of public assets to communities

• Download the slides from this event (PDF, 5MB)
• Read the report from from this event - 'Community asset ownership: Progress, diversity and risks' (Julian Dobson)