Social Renewal: Practical responses to neo-liberal austerity
How to thrive in society today is a challenge for people in communities around the world.
What is 'Hope Under Neoliberal Austerity'?
This Institute supported work began life as a book project. We are now exploring how we use this experience and expertise to support research and drive change.
The book, Hope Under Neoliberal Austerity: Responses from Civil Society and Civic Universities, edited by Mel Steer, Simin Davoudi, Mark Shucksmith and Liz Todd, now published by Policy Press - is comprised of chapters co-written by at least one academic from the University and at least one member of the case study/external organisation. The North East is used as a lens to explore critical social and political shifts that have wider relevance and resonance in other post-industrial cities and regions, particularly those affected by austerity policies.
Working with partners, the book provides practical examples of community-based practices to promote positive social change in neoliberal and austere times. As well as being a book about practical responses to austerity and neoliberalism, it includes examples of the civic university in action.
You can watch two further interviews which explore issues raised in their associated book chapters. The links below will take to you relevant clips which focus on some of the key issues or questions raised.
The book launch
In collaboration with the Campaign for Social Science, the Institute hosted an online event to launch this book and discuss some of the issues raised. A recording of the event, Can civil society mitigate the impact of austerity? Transformation or sticking plaster? can be viewed here.
The 'Byker Approach'
John Pendlebury and Jill Haley discuss what the 'Byker Approach' actually means.
Tyne and Wear Citizens and Newcastle University
These videos explore community organising through the Tyne and Wear Citizens alliance in North East England and the role of the university in the alliance.
Innovation outside of the state: the Glendale Gateway Trust
Patsy Healey, Tom Johnston and Frank Mansfield
This chapter outlines a civil society initiative activated by local concern over the steady decline of economic and social opportunity in a remote rural area of Northumberland. The Glendale Gateway Trust has grown from the efforts of committed locals into part of the governance ecosystem in the county. As a result, it has been in a position to grasp available opportunities, drawing down investment.
The Byker Community Trust and the ‘Byker Approach’
John Pendlebury and Jill Haley
This chapter describes the work of the Byker Community Trust to bring much-needed investment to the estate. The ‘Byker Approach’ aims to develop a leadership and empowerment culture aimed at being inclusive of all, giving tenants a key voice and role in decision-making.
Café society: transforming community through quiet activism and reciprocity
Jane Midgley and Sam Slatcher
This chapter is about food sharing in a community café in North East England. It draws from an original co-production research project between Newcastle University and the local REfUSE Community Interest Company. ‘Safe for Consumption’ foods are transformed and available in a ‘pay as you feel’ café. The social and community impacts of the café are documented and explored through the ideas of reciprocity and ‘quiet’ activism that aim to improve social justice outcomes
‘Computer Says No’: exploring social justice in digital services
Clara Crivellaro, Lizzie Coles-Kemp and Karen Wood
This chapter examines the impact of the digitisation of services and considers the way collaborations between academia and third sector organisations can lead to the development of practical responses to the neoliberal crisis and in support of democracy. The chapter describes the initial stages of collaboration with the Parker Trust based in Sunderland.
Drive to Thrive: a place-based approach to tackling poverty in Gateshead
Mel Steer and Michael Walker
This chapter describes Gateshead Council’s approach to place-based working during austerity and an initiative it developed. The approach ‘Thriving For All – Tackling Poverty in Gateshead’ brought people together from diverse organisations to tackle key social justice issues around poverty and inequality.
City of Dreams: enabling children and young people’s cultural participation and civic voice in Newcastle and Gateshead
Ben Dickenson and Venda Louise Pollock
City of Dreams is a long-term mission to make NewcastleGateshead the ‘best place to be young’ by enabling children and young people to have the opportunity to engage with culture and creativity. City of Dreams seeks to support young people in becoming active and creative citizens. The initiative is led by NewcastleGateshead Cultural Venues which has 53 affiliated organisations drawn for a variety of sectors. This chapter considers whether an initiative like City of Dreams can institute a culture change within the cultural sector and also impact on the city at large.
Reinventing a civic role for the 21st century: the cathedral and the university
John Goddard and Lindy Gilliland
This chapter explores how Newcastle Cathedral has set out about rediscovering its roots through place making and interaction with the community and civic life. It draws parallels between the journey of the cathedral and the university. The chapter outlines the origins and development of the ‘Common Ground in Sacred Space’ project. It then goes on to link this with the literature on civic universities, concluding on reflections on how these two types of civic institution might learn from each other.
Realising the potential of universities for inclusive, innovation-led development: the case of the Newcastle City Futures Urban Living Partnership pilot
Louise Kempton and David Marlow
From the outset Newcastle City Futures (NCF) adopted a ‘quadruple helix’ or ‘disruptive innovation’ approach by creating and facilitating spaces for partners in the quadruple helix sectors – public, private, voluntary/community/social enterprise and academic sectors – to engage without the usual expectations for time-bound, specific and measurable outputs. NCF has become a transformational, learning-by-doing initiative with valuable insights for other universities and their partners place-based innovation.
Future Homes: developing new responses through new organisations
Rose Gilroy, Dominic Aitken and Philip Miller
This chapter explores the journey of the Future Homes Alliance, a community interest company in Newcastle, built from a cross-sectoral partnership of university, local authority, industry and third sector groups that developed innovative housing models to respond to social renewal and social justice.
The good, the bad and the disconcerting: a week in the life of university project-based learning for schools
David Leat, Ulrike Thomas, Kirst Hayward and Anne de A’Echevarria
This chapter explores whether ‘project-based learning’ combined with ‘community curriculum making’ can provide more critically engaged, confident and informed citizens, and be a catalyst for developing a localised place-based culture and infrastructure of learning opportunities with some of the characteristics of a ‘Learning City’. These outcomes are explored through a project undertaken in summer 2018.
The containment of democratic innovation: reflections from two university collaborations
David Webb, Daniel Mallo, Armelle Tardiveau, Caroline Emmerson, Mark Pardoe and Marion Talbot
This chapter compares two projects based in the West End of Newcastle, both involving university-third sector collaborations focussed on place-based action. The projects took place at a time when government was reforming public services amid a rhetoric of ‘localism’. Using the two projects, the authors explore the limits that austerity places on social innovation and the implications these may have for the civic university agenda in a future that is likely to be defined by a post-pandemic economic agenda.
Citizen power, the university and the North East
Sara Bryson and Liz Todd
This chapter explores community organising through the Tyne and Wear Citizens alliance in North East England and the role of the university in the alliance. In this chapter, Sara Bryson (Citizens) and Liz Todd (Newcastle University) tell the story of the first four years. The chapter considers factors that have led to a number of achievements in relation to impacts of austerity and addresses the role of Tyne and Wear Citizens in responding to what are likely to be long lasting societal impacts of COVID-19. The role of the university in community organising is discussed and some important critical issues are raised.