Centre for Social Action, De Montfort University

Papers of the Centre for Social Action, including articles, conference papers and reports authored by staff and students of the Centre; photographs of summer schools, conferences, CSA Board members, and workshops in Russia and Ukraine; leaflets and flyers advertising the work of the Centre; brochure “CSA Review 1994-1999”; newsletters; and correspondence and administrative papers, particularly relating to the running of training sessions and summer schools.

The Centre for Social Action is based in the School of Applied Social Studies as part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at De Montfort University. The Centre supports and facilitates research, evaluation, training and consultancy in health, community work and social care.

The particular aim of the Centre is to develop participatory approaches to research which maximise the involvement of community members, young people and service users. Their key areas of work include: social action participatory research, youth participation, social capital and resilience, person centred support, well being, and public and patient involvement.

Staff and people associated with the Centre work on community projects across the UK and in Europe, South America, South Africa and America. Their methods aim to ensure that service users have a part in the development and maintenance of services developed to meet their needs. The Centre promotes the empowerment of all, particularly disabled people, children and young people and those from black and minority ethnic communities. They work on issues including health, youth work, family support and childcare, social work, community development, regeneration and social capital, well-being and person centred care.

The Centre for Social Action conducts research including that commissioned on behalf of central government, local authorities, voluntary organisations, community groups and funding bodies.

More information about the Centre can be found here: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/research-faculties-and-institutes/health-and-life-sciences/centre-for-social-action/working-for-the-community.aspx

Generally open, although some material may be restricted due to the sensitivity of the subject matter.

The papers were transferred to the Archive by Jennie Fleming, former Director of the Centre for Social Action, in August 2013.

A box list is available. Please contact the Archivist for more information.

Fonds description prepared by Archivist Katharine Short, April 2015.

Copies may be made for research purposes only.